Originally published October 23, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified October 23, 2007 at 4:36 PM
Rossi due to make rematch official
Republican Dino Rossi is expected to announce Thursday what many people have assumed since he narrowly lost the 2004 governor's race ...
Seattle Times staff reporter
OLYMPIA — Republican Dino Rossi is expected to announce Thursday what many people have assumed since he narrowly lost the 2004 governor's race — he's running again.
His campaign spokeswoman, Jill Strait, confirmed Monday he's expected to announce his second run for governor in Issaquah, then again later in the day in Spokane.
Rossi lost to Democrat Christine Gregoire by 133 votes in 2004, after three vote counts and a court challenge.
Rossi spent seven years in the Legislature, rising to chair the powerful Senate Ways and Means Committee. He resigned his Senate seat in December 2003 to run for governor.
Rossi could not be reached for comment Monday, and his cellphone voice mail referred calls to Strait.
Paul Berendt, who was chairman of the state Democratic Party the last time Rossi ran, said he wasn't worried about a rematch. "Bring him on," Berendt said. "She will whip him, and it will be based on her record."
State Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz declined to comment.
State Republican Party Chairman Luke Esser said he had not heard for certain about Rossi's plan but said, "Republicans are pretty excited by the prospect."
Esser said that despite the good economy, Gregoire is vulnerable. "What's really changed is we've gone from Christine Gregoire's promises to Christine Gregoire's actions," he said.
In what's likely to be a list of talking points for Republicans in the coming campaign, Esser talked about record state spending, tax increases approved by Democrats and the governor's record on fighting crime.
"It's really a pretty dismal record on her part that didn't exist when she first ran for governor and promised to do oh so many good things for oh so many people," Esser said.
Berendt said Gregoire will handily beat Rossi "because she's just done a darn good job as governor. She's been able to enhance many important programs including children's health and cleanup of the Puget Sound and transportation funding that he was never able to do on his watch on the Ways and Means Committee."
![]()
Gregoire hasn't officially announced her re-election campaign but she's been busy raising money for the upcoming race, collecting more than $3 million.
She appears on pace to surpass the $6.4 million she raised in 2004, which was nearly double the previous record for a gubernatorial candidate.
Monday, she was in Washington, D.C., raising more money. Gregoire and several Democratic members of the state's congressional delegation were at a reception Monday night at the American Gas Association, a group that represents 200 local utility companies.
Gregoire, who was in Philadelphia last weekend for a meeting of the Democratic Governors' Association, was scheduled to go today to New York to speak to the Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century, which bills itself as "an organization of young, progressive New Yorkers."
The campaign paid for the trip, the governor's office said.
Esser said Rossi won't be able to match Gregoire in terms of money.
"There's no doubt in my mind that the governor will be able to raise more money," he said. "But I think Dino could raise enough money to get his message across and run an effective campaign."
Andrew Garber: 360-943-9882 or agarber@seattletimes.com. Material from The Associated Press and Seattle Times archives was used in this story.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Historic health care bill nears key Senate vote
Landrieu to vote to move ahead on health-care bill
UPDATE - 7:26 PM
Senate vote clears hurdle on health bill
Constantine to trim personal staff and salaries
Republicans blast 'bait and switch' health bill

LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham talks about the upcoming MLS Cup final during after a team practice.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Monfort fired after excellent worker turned unreliable
- Sentence request for US woman in Italy murder case
- 31 years for man who killed girlfriend, then lit cigarette and waited for police
- Boeing facility death was suicide
- Mariners Blog | A Mariners-Tigers swap makes a whole lot of sense for both teams
- Swedish threatens to end Regence BlueShield's contract
- Man falls 8 stories, suffers minor injuries
- Man shot in chest on E. Union Street in Capitol Hill
- Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
- Mariners Blog | Dustin Ackley to move to second base; Mariners add six to 40-man roster
- First key vote today on Senate health bill
164 - Mariners add six to 40-man roster
104 - Boeing breaks ground for historic SC plant
97 - Lynnwood is reinventing itself — again
79 - Man shot in Capitol Hill
71 - Senate vote clears hurdle
69 - Italian lead prosecutor argues Knox motive was hatred
67 - Bye week answers, volume four
46 - Case of accused "Street Mobb" pimp goes to jury
45 - Saturday links
45
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Swedish threatens to end Regence BlueShield's contract
- Recipes: Sesame Pork Roast, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Gingerbread with Lemon Sauce and more
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Nonprofits get creative using Twitter and Facebook to make donation easier
- Restaurant review | Artisanal at The Bravern shows French flair in delicious style
- Peruvian police: Gang killed people for their fat
- Seattle industrial artist Rusty Oliver is the man behind 'Smash Putt'
- Great places to cross-country ski for free (or almost) in the Methow
- $335 million in education grants








