Dino Rossi and the Republicans were shellacked in the court of Chelan County. Point by point, the judge rejected their inferences and wild conjecture in the effort to overturn the closest governor's race in state history.

But in the court of public opinion, Rossi fared very well during the seven-month legal and political challenge. The former state senator and real-estate agent is in good position for his next political contest, no matter if he chooses the 2005 King County executive's race, the 2006 U.S. Senate race or the governor's race three and a half years away.

The latter two are more likely because Republicans won't want to waste their star candidate on a local election.

Rossi, as incumbent Democrat Maria Cantwell surely realizes, could give her a tough run in the Senate contest, capitalizing on a still-pervasive notion among many Washingtonians that Rossi was robbed of the governor's mansion.

Perception becomes reality, even if a GOP-favored judge in a GOP-picked county didn't see it that way.

As with a Little League umpire who awards a close call to one team, a certain amount of whining from the other team could have more impact on a subsequent decision. Hey, ump, how about giving us the next call.

That is the opportunity for Republicans. Human nature suggests some voters will want to give the GOP candidate a break next go-round.

Rossi could make a commanding run for the Senate because he kept his nose fairly clean throughout the trial. State GOP Chairman Chris Vance played bad cop, offering one audacious press statement after another, while Rossi, the good cop, was quietly helping his wife with child-raising duties.

Rossi remained dignified throughout, with the notable exception of his graceless swipe at the state Supreme Court. Rossi said he would not take the election contest to the state's highest court because the political makeup of the Supreme Court would have made it almost impossible to get the decision overturned. That is 10 tons of hooey.

Aside from that, Rossi is likable and respected. He would be compelling as someone who has worked budget, health-care and education issues in Olympia. He sings the anti-Seattle, anti-King County song as well as anyone.

But you only get so far as a martyr. Rossi would not be able to run as a change agent, as he did in the governor's race, because he would be part of the amen chorus for President Bush and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Those two have overreached on Terri Schiavo, Social Security and stem-cell research.

Nor will Rossi be able to run from his very conservative positions on social issues. He opposes abortion in most cases and supports a constitutional ban on gay marriage, issues that matter for a senator.

If Rossi dreads weekly airplane trips back and forth to the nation's capital, he has another choice: He can run for King County executive.

Current executive Ron Sims is on the defensive due to numerous mistakes made by his elections office. Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges all but encouraged voters to punish someone for blunders aired during the trial.

Over the past eight years, Sims had two easy election contests. In the 1997 race against former state Rep. Suzette Cooke, he won by a 2-to-1 margin. In 2001, he ran very strong against Kirkland City Councilman Santos Contreras, an almost 20-point victory.

No matter who runs against Sims this fall — County Councilman David Irons Jr. is the announced candidate — Sims won't have such high numbers. Many rural voters are angry because of the critical-areas ordinance, which limits what they can do with their land. He also has mega-baggage from the election snafu. Sims never got in front of election problems. He always seemed to be playing catch-up.

Rossi is more likely to aim for the 2008 governor's race, considering his oft-repeated line that he wants to improve the state's economy and opportunities for the next generation.

If that is the plan or if either the Senate or county executive race are in his sights, here's a bit of advice: He should can that tired line that he is not a career politician, that he had a good life before politics and will have a good life afterward. After eight years as a state senator and gubernatorial candidate, he is a politician, all right. So what?

Republicans spent almost $2.5 million trying to get the election overturned and to burnish Rossi's image. As long as he plays steady, he is the Republicans' best hope for governor, senator or county executive. It's been eons since the GOP could say that about a candidate.

Joni Balter's column appears regularly on editorial pages of The Times. Her e-mail address is jbalter@seattletimes.com