WA Senate: Murray, Rossi move on to November

Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Republican challenger Dino Rossi formalized their November matchup Tuesday, emerging as expected from Washington state's "top two" primary by comfortable margins.

With about 45 percent of the expected vote counted in unofficial results, Murray claimed first place with about 47 percent of the vote. Rossi took the second spot with about 34 percent.

Washington's unusual primary lists all candidates on a single ballot and winnows the field to two for the general election, regardless of the candidates' party. Conservative Republican Clint Didier, a former NFL tight end who attracted support from tea party activists, was in third place with about 10 percent of the vote.

Murray enjoyed a primary-day visit from President Barack Obama, part of the president's national tour to help Democratic candidates.

In his first visit to the state as president, Obama headlined two fundraising events for Murray and the state Democratic Party. The expected haul was estimated at about $1.3 million.

At a Seattle hotel, Obama told a packed fundraising luncheon that "the country needs Patty."

"I can tell you we would not have been able to get some of the critical things we got done this year had it not been for her leadership. So make sure you send her back to Washington, please," Obama said.

Without mentioning Rossi by name, Obama also criticized the Republican contender for advocating repeal of the Democrats' new tighter regulations on the financial industry.

Arguing those steps were clearly needed after the mammoth financial collapse and the Great Recession, Obama said Rossi must have been "counting on amnesia" to find support for repealing the measure.

Rossi's campaign replied that Obama should have focused on promoting Murray.

"If someone as eloquent as President Obama can't defend her 18-year record of spending, taxing, and growing government, who can? It's clear Washington needs Dino Rossi in the Senate to get the economy moving and keep spending under control," spokeswoman Jennifer Morris said.

Nearly all of Washington's 3.6 million voters use absentee ballots, with only one county still offering traditional polling places. Ballots were mailed statewide in late July and must be postmarked or dropped off by Tuesday.

Rossi was heavily recruited by national Republican officials to challenge Murray, who has regularly polled below 50 percent in this campaign. Rossi finally announced his campaign in late May, just days before the deadline for registering as a candidate.

Since then, he's campaigned as a critic of the Democratic majority's spending and the national debt. Rossi is seeking to turn one of Murray's chief strengths, the ability to deliver federal money, into a liability.

Murray has not run from her record of bringing federal spending to the state, pointing out jobs that were bankrolled by such efforts and warning that a freshman senator who decries earmarks would simply surrender that money to other states.

Brian Kenny, 37, of Seattle, said he was supporting Murray because he likes the Democratic agenda that's been advanced since Obama took office.

"I supported health care reform, financial reform and energy reform. I think Rossi would obstruct that. I don't see viable solutions from the right," Kenny said.

Matt Martin, 42, of Kenmore, was among those protesting outside Obama's first fundraiser for Murray. Holding a sign that said "Pork Patty" with a drawing of a pig with Murray's likeness, Martin said he'd supported Didier - but was mostly motivated to defeat Murray.

"I'm going to vote for the conservative candidate, whichever one it is, in the actual election," he said.

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AP Writer Manuel Valdes contributed to this report from Seattle.

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Online:

Murray: http://www.pattymurray.com

Rossi: http://www.dinorossi.com