WASHINGTON -- Eight months remain in Denny Heck's congressional campaign for the 3rd District seat being vacated by Rep. Brian Baird. But the Vancouver native and TVW founder may be trying to snag the title as the Most Inevitable Winner.

On Saturday, Heck added Baird's name to a growing list of notable Washington Democrats who have endorsed his candidacy in a crowded field. Baird's blessing could well prove pivotal in a district that most recently relected him by a 64-36 margin against a Republican challenger.

Heck also has won backing from Gov. Christine Gregoire (who drew a foul from state election law regulators who contend that she engaged in illegal fundraising during the legislative session), former Washington Gov. Booth Gardner and state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler.

Heck is one of nine candidates so far -- five Democrats and four Republicans -- vying to replace Baird, who unexpectedly announced in December that he won't run for a seventh term. Heck's campaign had $212,000 in cash at the end of December. That's four times as much as the nearest fundraiser, state Rep. Jaime Herrera, R-Camas.

Nonetheless, Heck rejected the notion that he's casting himself as an inevitable victor or even the frontrunner.

"That's phenominally presumptuous," Heck said.

In addition to a stint as Gardner's chief of staff, Heck served five terms in the State House of Representatives. But for this race, Heck is playing up his business background, including as an original investor in Seattle's RealNetworks. The 3rd District in southwest Washington has been hardest hit by the recession, with unemployment rate now at 14.4 percent in Clark County and 14.7 percent in Lewis County.

Heck said his highest priority is bringing jobs to his hometown region -- something he contends Congress has mismanaged. Though Heck supports the federal stimulus spending, he said the money has been doled out too slowly and failed to target the areas that needed it the most.