Murray anticipates nasty GOP campaign

By Jim Brunner
Seattle Times staff reporter

BETTY UDESEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES Former Sen. Max Cleland shakes hands with supporters yesterday after speaking in Seattle at a rally for Sen. Patty Murray.

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Murray last night hosted a campaign rally in Seattle featuring former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia, who lost his re-election bid two years ago in a race that featured controversial TV ads where Cleland's face was paired with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.

The ads, sponsored by Republican Saxby Chambliss, criticized Cleland's votes against some homeland-security spending. But they were condemned as over the line even by some Republicans, considering Cleland's status as a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War who lost both legs and his right arm in a grenade accident.

Last night, Murray stood on a stage with Cleland and referred ominously to remarks by Sen. George Allen, R-Va., chairman of the Senate GOP fund-raising committee. He's likened the Washington state Senate race to the Georgia race of 2002.

"We're not gonna let that happen. And Max, we'll make you an honorary senator from the state of Washington," said Murray, drawing huge cheers from the crowd of about 200 supporters at the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center at Discovery Park.

Cleland hailed Murray's work on behalf of veterans and urged the crowd to send her back for a third term. "She has what it takes. And besides — she and I see eye to eye," Cleland joked, drawing a hug from Murray, who stands only a bit taller than Cleland, who uses a wheelchair.

Since his unexpected defeat in 2002, Cleland has become a poster boy for Democrats seeking to condemn what they say are unsavory Republican campaign tactics.

Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in 1992, faces Republican challenger Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Spokane, who has already started to criticize her for voting against some defense-spending proposals. (Another Republican, college professor Reed Davis, is also seeking the GOP nomination, against the wishes of the party leadership.)

But Nethercutt's first round of TV ads focused on building up his own positive image and did not mention Murray. And his campaign has indicated that it compared this race to the 2002 Georgia Senate race only to suggest that Nethercutt, like Chambliss, could pull off an upset victory over a seemingly popular incumbent Democrat.

Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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