Talmadge withdraws from governor's race

By Andrew Garber
Seattle Times Olympia bureau

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Talmadge was one of three candidates competing for the Democratic nomination, running a distant third in fund raising behind Attorney General Christine Gregoire and King County Executive Ron Sims.

Talmadge, 52, said he may have to undergo surgery for the tumor, called an angiomyolipoma, which he said would take him out of the race for weeks.

Given "the kind of campaign I'd have to run in order to win, I couldn't see how I could get to victory," Talmadge said. "The reality is I couldn't afford that time period to skate and be a serious candidate for the office."

He had raised about $217,000 compared with $1.2 million for Gregoire and roughly $760,000 for Sims, according to the latest state disclosure reports.

Talmadge had talked about dropping out of the race earlier this month after the Washington Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, endorsed Gregoire. But he ultimately decided to stay in the fight.

Then last week he fainted at a Bellevue restaurant.

"They took me by Medic One to Overlake Hospital. They detected (the tumor) and tried to do some treatment for it," Talmadge said.

Angiomyolipoma tumors are benign growths made up of fatty tissue and muscle cells, according to a fact sheet by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. In most cases the tumors do not cause symptoms but can grow large enough to cause pain or kidney failure.

Talmadge served one term on the state Supreme Court, stepping down in 2000, and before that served 16 years as a state senator from West Seattle. He was the first Democrat to enter the governor's race.

During his campaign he focused sharp attacks on Gregoire and accused Boeing of using its political and economic muscle to squeeze what he said were undeserved concessions out of Washington's lawmakers and workers.
 
Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt said Talmadge is a "brilliant" man but said, "I think it's best he dropped out. He just wasn't able to get much traction."

Republican candidate Dino Rossi and Gregoire both sent out press statements wishing Talmadge a speedy recovery. Sims credited him with running an issues-oriented campaign and said he hoped Talmadge's supporters will switch to his side.

Talmadge said he's not planning to endorse any of the remaining candidates.

And he did not count out running for office again in the future.

Andrew Garber: 360-943-9882 or agarber@seattletimes.com