Though we know you're just finishing up reading the transcripts from yesterday's Reichert vs. Burner debate, it's already time for another Washington State debate. Tonight, Governor Christine Gregoire and Dino Rossi will meet in Spokane for the fourth debate in the hotly contested gubernatorial race. It's the second to last meeting for the candidates before the general election on November 4th. The final debate will be held between Gregoire and Rossi next Wednesday in Seattle.......

Governor Christine Gregoire has admitted Washington is facing a budget deficit for 2009-11 (currently the state has a surplus), after third-party "GOP" candidate (He's what now? A Republican?) Dino Rossi staked out the issue. Now that she's announced cutbacks and a raid on the state's rainy day fund to cut the projected $3.2 billion deficit by half, Rossi can't find anything good to say about that, either. It is thrilling to hear a Republican deride......

Yesterday, Faith Ireland and Robert Utter, two former state Supremes, officially filed suit against the BIAW and said they intend to sue Dino Rossi. They claim Rossi was too hands-on in 2007 with what's supposed to be an independent BIAW PAC. If he, as a candidate, coordinated with the PAC in any way, the PAC would be limited to spending $2,800 on a race they've spent $2 million on in 2008. Rossi says: "If what......

There are five weeks until Election Day, and five issues in our state's gubernatorial race (six if you count Eastern Washington's concerns). Each week we'll be taking an award-winning look at where the candidates stand. We are a week behind, so it’s time for a double-shot-rock-block-Friday. Transportation Gregoire: I’ll get to it, geez, what’s the rush? Rossi: I’m gonna build roads, roads, nothing but roads. Healthcare: Gregoire: Rossi wants each patient to choose between a......

The Seattle Times--almost coming right out and saying something without regard for nuance and subtlety--has decided to set the facts straight about that Washington state deficit the Dino-Rossi-for-Gov ads are whacking Gov Gregoire over the head with. "The ads assert the state has a deficit. [...] The ad is inaccurate for this reason: The state is facing a projected $3.2 billion budget hole next year, but it does not have a deficit today." In fact,......

Though the political news of the day is most certainly McCain's ploy to "suspend" his campaign and delay the first presidential debate as well as the VP debate in order to concentrate on the economic crisis, there's other news out today about the plight of Republican candidates this year. According to the New York Times, Washington State Democrats are suing to force Republican candidate for governor Dino Rossi to list his party affiliation on the......

For those of you still bummed you missed out on a political announcement via text message, you have a second chance. GOP gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi and his campaign have launched a text message network to update Rossi supporters. If you text the word DINO (in charming all-caps) to 99222, you too can get updates on the Rossi campaign and the candidate's whereabouts. Be the first on your block to know when Dino Rossi is......

Georgetown by Seattlest Flickr photog smohundro The Belltowner is the bearer of wonderful and awful news. The very, very good? H&M opens in downtown Seattle on Thursday...as in tomorrow! The not at all good news? A policeman on bike was attacked with a surgical instrument in Belltown this Saturday. A West Seattle "Thriller" dance team is practicing to participate in a dance-off to beat the world "Thriller" record.Blogging Georgetown wonders if there's a real estate......

Howard Dean's visit to Renton this weekend was really only the beginning of what is sure to be a lively seven weeks until the election. The first celebrity deathmatch pitting Obama versus McCain on national TV is still 11 days away. But if you want to wet your chops with a little political debate action this week, you're in luck. Our own homestate smackdown will be broadcast on KOMO-4 this Saturday, Sept. 20, at 9......

According to a King5-commissioned poll, Barack Obama's lead in Washington is diminishing. Obama's lead has dropped from double digits in June to only four percentage points in the most recent poll. If the election was held today, 49% of Washingtonians would vote for Barack Obama and 45% would cast their vote for John McCain. Despite all the tabloid rumors (and truths) about McCain's choice of Sarah Palin for Vice President, the announcement increased voter......

According to an email we got from the Washington State Democrats today, the state's Attorney General, Rob McKenna, laid out a plan for Dino Rossi to beat Christine Gregoire in November for state delegates at the Republican National Convention in Minnesota. In short, according to McKenna, McCain-Palin needs to carry Washington by 10-12 points. "If he fails to carry it by ten or twelve points, Dino doesn't win." Maybe it's scary thoughts like that which......

There are 10 weeks until Election Day, and 10 issues in our state's gubernatorial race (11 if you count Eastern Washington's concerns). Each week we'll be taking an award-winning look at where the candidates stand. We are about to take off on vacation, and, well, we wanna get out of here. So this is going to happen lightning-round style. Abortion: Rossi: Anti. Gregoire: Pro. Taxes: Gregoire: For the rich only. Rossi: None at all, ever.......

Ali versus Frasier, Coke vs. Pepsi, Good vs. Evil, Gregoire vs. Rossi: the opposing sides in the great battles of our time. The latter, Gregoire vs. Rossi, is all geared up for an ugly rematch set to unfold this November. The candidates have announced that a duel err, debate will be taking place on October 1st in Yakima. The sure to be scintilatting, or at least mud-slinging, discussion will be shown statewide on PBS stations.......

There are 11 weeks until Election Day, and 11 issues in our state's gubernatorial race (12 if you count Eastern Washington's concerns). Each week we'll be taking an award-winning look at where the candidates stand. Washington residents pay the highest gas tax in all the land. Wait, what?!?! We demand to know who is at fault for this! Rossi: She is, because she signed the 2005 bill that increased the gas tax 9.5 cents for......

Well, that was fun! Absentee ballots are still pouring in, but yesterday's (rather predictable) primary results have been announced. Dino Rossi and Christine Gregoire are neck and neck and by far the top two gubernatorial candidates, so settle in for a truly American-style bloody campaign this fall as they race to the finish line. Check out Slog's exhaustive coverage, starting here with the percentage results. And KIRO 7 has post-election interviews with both Gregoire (with......

There are 12 weeks until Election Day, and 12 issues in our state's gubernatorial race (13 if you count Eastern Washington's concerns). Each week we'll be taking an award-winning look at where the candidates stand. Rossi: His detractors claim that he's a Bush model global warming denier. Well Mr. Rossi, if there's no such thing as climate change, how do you explain the crap weather we've been getting the last few years? He's probably......

There are 13 weeks until Election Day, and 13 issues in our state's gubernatorial race (14 if you count Eastern Washington's concerns). Each week we'll be taking an award-winning look at where the candidates stand. This Week: Small Business. Gregoire: She will continue to help business owners. Gregoire Website: “[Washington is the] Fourth best state for starting a business.” Rossi: He will do more to help small businesses owners. Rossi Website: “Washington has one of......

There are 14 weeks until Election Day, which is great because there are only 14 issues in our state's gubernatorial race (15 if you count Eastern Washington's concerns). Each week we'll be taking an in-depth, and we predict award-winning, look at where Governor Christine Gregoire and Just Dino Rossi stand. This Week: The Alaskan Way Viaduct. Rossi—That waterfront tunnel no one liked. Gregoire—She will decide by December 2006, the voters will decide, an elevated replacement,......

Not that kind of bathhouse. Our sources tell us that Governor Gregoire will be doing a boat tour of Puget Sound tomorrow and Friday in her quest to remind people she's a better option than Dino Rossi. Her Seattle stop will be at the Golden Gardens Bath House at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon. Not really the greatest time for a high-yield political rally, considering it's Way Out There, and people work and all. But it's a......

Seattlest John pointed out earlier today that Dino Rossi is looking to use the Sonics impending departure as yet another wedge-issue in his re-match with Gov. Gregoire. We'll refrain from commenting on how awful we think Rossi is and won't say anything about how if Rossie were still in the State Senate, he'd be fuming mad at the idea of the state taxing citizens for a basketball team. No, we won't comment on that. Instead,......

Dino Rossi is savvy enough to know the state’s inability to broker a Key Arena remodel is the type of far-fetched, wedge issue just ripe for exploiting come November’s election. Considering the hotly contested runoff between him and Governor Gregoire several years ago, the Sonics impending departure is the perfect issue to highlight as an example of weak-kneed Democrats not taking care of business on Gregoire’s watch. Of course, there is the fact Key......

Well Governor Gregoire's on a bit of a rampage, isn't she! First she announces that, replacement or no, the Viaduct is coming down in 2012. Now, an announcement that you'll have to pay a toll to cross 520 as soon as next year. The Times reports that the toll would be around $6 at peak hours. Why tolls? The state needs $2 billion to pay its share of the new 520 bridge, scheduled to open......

Glory be! Is this the year all our wishes come true? It wasn't but yesterday that we asked whether a decision would be made on the Viaduct this year. Well, Chris McGann of the P-I asked Governor Christine Gregoire about it. And look!"It's coming down in 2012. I'm taking it down. That's the timeline. I'm not going to fudge on it. And if we don't have some alternative by then, boy are we going to......

Barack Obama's celebrity endorsement by Oprah Winfrey didn't go unnoticed by local Republicans. Never shy about borrowing strategy, they've recruited their own big name person--former Seahawk and Coug Robbie Tobeck. Tobeck is the putative author of a letter emailed this morning to supporters of Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi. He invokes some hoary football metaphors in an attempt to turn his football "celebrity" into cold hard campaign cash.As a former Seattle Seahawk and Washington State......

Those who attended the Issaquah Village Theater’s matinee of The King and I today may have come away a little disappointed. Dino Rossi used the stage to announce his candidacy for governor. After his Eastside announcement, Rossi raced the telegraph wires to Spokane and made his announcement again this afternoon. The man who got his asshole handed to him three years ago by current governor Christine Gregoire, has been the Republicans' guy since he decided......

The Republicans, learning from the mistakes of the Democrats in King County's Sixth, may decide to run a candidate against Governor Gregoire next fall. The PI reports, in big letters above the fold, that Dino Rossi (the guy who may already be our governor) will probably run for governor. Well, no shit. He's been holding un-official rallies, giving speeches, and raising money (WIIINNNK) for a few months now. Also, everyone in the state's GOP expects......

--Dino Rossi, not your best day. --Rent-a-Goats spotted in West Seattle, coyotes spotted on Capitol Hill. --Seattle Parking Enforcement hates Jesus. --The Rashard Lewis deal is final, and Sonics fans approve. --Is there a street sign out there with your name on it? That's the fan and A/C aisle of the Northgate Target last night, as posted on LiveJournal by Lady of the Carrots.......

State Democrats are calling shenanigans on Dino Rossi's "Forward Washington Foundation," arguing that it's just "Rossi in 2008" by a different name. Not only do the Democrats want the population of Central America to just walk in to the country and take your job, they also want the fundraising by Rossi's nonprofit to be subject to campaign regulations since he uses the money to travel around the state making speeches. Rossi claims that this is......

The scoreboard at Everett Memorial Stadium will be incredibly accurate this season. Why? Because Dino Rossi is buying a minority share in the Aquasox, and he tends to get bitchy when people lose count. Rossi will be making the announcement with fellow new minority owner Jay Buhner, where it’s a safe bet that Rossi will make sure that the two are seated. This will complete Rossi's reverse-Bush résumé-- elected official, lost disputed election for higher......

"I voted for Dino Rossi" is not what you say when you are dating a hard-left politics dork. Seattlest once learned this the hard way. The revelation sparked an argument. We lost. For months, we spent lonely nights reading Lewis Lapham, trying to cure our moderate streak. But, with the Democrats in gridlock over the Viaduct issue, we feel vindicated. The internecine squabbling that's led us to a point where we're having a meaningless advisory......