Gregoire vs. Rossi: the sequel

Top political experts have identified the Washington governor's race as one of the three most competitive in the country in 2008 — after Missouri and Indiana, where Republican governors are defending their jobs.

If it seems completely twilight-zone weird that Washington's race is so tight, it is odder still when you realize that our state enjoys one of the nation's most bustling economies. Boeing is humming. Microsoft is strong. Unemployment is low.

And yet Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire, who normally would bask in this reflected glory, appears vulnerable against her former and future opponent, Republican Dino Rossi.

A recent survey by The Washington Poll pegged her overall approval rating at 63 percent, higher than any other such rating issued so far. Still, in head-to-head matchups against Rossi, she comes up 47 percent to his 42 percent, and that puts this race in the tossup category in the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

What gives?

Well, a lot.

Only 11 governor races are in play in 2008. Other Democrats facing re-election — Brian Schweitzer in Montana and Joe Manchin in West Virginia, for example — either have no opponent or extremely high approval ratings. Gregoire is facing another close race and it has plenty to do with bitter feelings remaining from the 2004 race. That, and more.

"She's (Gregoire) not a natural politician," surmised Jennifer Duffy, a political analyst with Cook. "While she has accomplished some things, I am not sure she has communicated it."

In the spirit of giving this holiday, I have some advice for both Gregoire and her perky opponent, Rossi.

Gregoire needs to make something dramatic happen on transportation. She has done a better job talking about transportation than doing enough about it.

Yes, she persuaded the Legislature to approve a sizable gas-tax increase to pay for a number of projects now under way. Yes, she is making some safety improvements to the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

But when it comes to the bigger challenges of Highway 520 and the longer decision on replacing the viaduct, she has to do something breathtaking, something along the lines of her famous brokering of the nationwide tobacco settlement as state attorney general. She has to bring disparate parties into the room — and figure out solutions that stick.

Gregoire has been meeting with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and King County Executive Ron Sims on the viaduct, but meetings do not make politicians famous or well-regarded. Something actually has to happen.

Rossi has to be more specific about his positions on a variety of issues and he, too, has to offer real solutions. What would he do for the viaduct or 520?

It is one thing to sit in an office and hammer out critical press releases every time the governor hiccups; quite another to be a constructive player.

All politicians try to control the agenda and answer press questions they like best. But Rossi openly says he will not answer questions he doesn't like — or, to use his term, "not campaigning on."

For example, in 2004 Rossi deftly handled two hot social issues. He said at the time that he opposes abortion in most cases and supports a constitutional ban on gay marriage, but quickly reminded reporters that those issues don't really matter for a governor. The press in large part, said, Gee, Gosh, OK.

More recently, Rossi was asked by Seattle Times political writer David Postman if he believes pharmacists should decide whether they want to sell the Plan B emergency-contraception pill (Exhibit A as to why his position on social issues does matter for a governor).

Postman wanted to interview him. Instead, Rossi spokeswoman Jill Strait e-mailed to say Rossi believes pharmacists should not be forced to do something against their conscience or religious beliefs.

The spokeswoman's next comment illustrates a problem: "This is not a topic he has been campaigning on and (he) will not be doing an interview on it at this time."

Honest, but not appropriate for a potential governor.

On the more intangible likability question, Gregoire is warm in person but in her televised persona she also can seem harsh. Often, when pondering her next answer, she frowns. The irrepressible Rossi has a winning smile most of the time.

Next year's race will be close. Everybody understands that. Gregoire has to lead us to a transportation solution for the viaduct and 520 — a high bar considering the lawyers per square mile in the Montlake neighborhood.

Rossi has to be engaged and forthcoming. He's been out of the picture three years. He needs to tell us what's new and specifically how he will make Washington a better place in which to live.

Joni Balter's column appears regularly on editorial pages of The Times. Her e-mail address is seattletimes.com">jbalter@seattletimes.com; for a podcast Q&A with the author, go to Opinion at seattletimes.com