Is Herrera snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?

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A single poll is interesting when it comes to momentum. Two polls are REALLY something, but three? That's a trend.

Here's an article from Roll Call, talking about an "internal poll." As Barbie knows, "internal polls" can say anything you might want them to say when they're released to the public.

But if (and it's a huge "IF,") this poll is true, then Herrera could be in serious trouble... as more people examine her more closely and discover what I've known since she first was parachuted back in here by McMorris to, ultimately, run for Congress. Again, IF true, this is the second consecutive poll with results showing Heck closing on the empty suit.

Here's the article: Enjoy.

Washington: New Internal Poll Shows Heck Closing In

By Kyle
Trygstad
Roll Call Staff

Sept. 21, 2010, 12 a.m.

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Democrat Denny Heck is within the margin of error with Republican Jaime Herrera, according to an internal poll conducted for the Heck campaign and obtained by Roll Call.

While Heck’s poll finds Herrera at 47 percent and Heck at 44 percent, it’s an improvement from recent public surveys and past polling conducted for Heck’s campaign.

The Greenberg Quinlan Rosner survey of 502 likely voters was taken Sept. 7-9 with a 4.4-point margin of error.

Automated polls conducted by Survey USA found Herrera ahead by 13 points in August and 9 points in September. In June, a GQR poll conducted for Heck found him behind by 7 points.

As the polling memo points out, Heck’s positive movement occurred as outside conservative groups, including American Future Fund and Americans for Prosperity, have dropped hundreds of thousands of dollars in TV ads against him.

Heck and Herrera are running to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Brian Baird, who won his last four races with more than 60 percent of the vote. President Barack Obama carried the district in 2008 with 56 percent.

Cross posted at Jaime Herrera Watch.

Heck begins to campaign... for Herrera.

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At the union wake held at Firefighter's Local 452 Hall, Denny Heck officially began to campaign for Ridgefield Barbie.

Stakes are high in Washington’s 3rd, which has been ranked the No. 1 House race in the country by MSNBC, Heck said. “You all were incredibly helpful in the primary,” he said. “We have 56 days to go from today.” Without mobilization of Democratic voters, he said, “you could wake up on Wednesday (after Election Day) and have someone who sounds a lot like Linda Smith.”

Denny, here's a clue: while Babs isn't fit to carry Linda's luggage; Linda Smith, it seems to me, is exactly the kind of representative the vast majority of the 3rd CD is looking for.

Your ONLY hope, Denny, is to move right. Period.

You have to figure out a way to get past the fear that your election means another vote for that blithering idiot, the Belle of Botox, Pelosi.

You have to figure out a way to reassure the people that you will not vote for any more tax increases or bail outs.

In case you haven't noticed, even a clueless moron like Herrera is kicking your butt sideways in the polls. Resurrecting the "specter" of another Linda Smith is exactly what you DON'T want to do.

Because every time you do it, you're rounding up more votes for Barbie.

Seriously.

Cross posted at Jaime Herrera Watch.
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Seattle Times endorses Heck.... and Castillo!!!!

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The true test of anyone's intelligence is typically that degree to which they agree with you.

The Seattle Times passed over Ridgefield Barbie and endorsed Denny Heck.... and David Castillo!

This is a STUNNING blow to Babs, who seemed to think that Cathy McMorris's effort to make her the "Anointed One" by bringing her corruptive influence to the other side of the state from her own district doesn't, in fact, mean anything CONstructive as much as it has been DEstructive.

Running the empty suit like Obama doesn't mean that people won't see through that.

We've been there. We've done that. And we've got the t shirt, a horrific mountain of debt, Obamacare and a foreign policy that looks like an early Keystone Cops movie... all voted for by Baird, and none of which Herrera found fault with.

Denny Heck and David Castillo the primary picks in the 3rd Congressional District

The Seattle Times editorial board endorses Denny Heck and David Castillo in the primary in Washington's 3rd Congressional District race in Southwest Washington.

ONE incontrovertible truth about Washington's 3rd Congressional District is it is a swing district in the fullest sense of the term. President Obama won there, as did President George W. Bush.

Whoever represents Southwest Washington in Congress must be an independent thinker willing to buck his or her political party. With that in mind, The Seattle Times endorses Denny Heck, Democrat, and David Castillo, Republican, to advance to the general election.

Both have worked in the public and private sectors and have a strong grasp of the challenges facing the district, most notably its unacceptably high unemployment rate. Both appear creative enough to tackle tough issues from an independent vantage point.

The need for jobs and an improved economy overshadow most other issues. Heck touts the need to proceed with a new Columbia River crossing as an economic stimulator and the need to keep Washington ports humming. Castillo emphasizes the needs to improve infrastructure, including flood areas along Interstate 5, and create enterprise zones to help economically distressed counties.

Heck began his political career at age 24, and was elected to five terms in the state House of Representatives. He served as House Majority Leader, and later, as chief of staff to Gov. Booth Gardner.

Castillo, too, showed early interest in public service and worked for George W. Bush, including a stint as a senior official at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Castillo is currently a financial adviser, and was the first challenger in the race, before the incumbent, Brian Baird, decided not to seek re-election.

Heck is an innovator as evidenced by the fact that he was an early investor in RealNetworks, a digital-entertainment company, and co-founded TVW, the C-SPAN of Washington state — a triumph of achievement for transparency in state proceedings.

Both men are levelheaded about wars America can no longer afford. Both realize the U.S. may not know what success looks like in Afghanistan, and if the vision remains too foggy, are willing to move to the end game.

On numerous issues ranging from financial reform to federal spending, Heck elevates the discussion with his vast knowledge and solution-oriented approach. Castillo wraps no-nonsense earnestness into conservative principles, which have room for compassion for people living in poverty. Childhood poverty is part of his own story.

This contest will be close. Voters would be wise to pick Heck and Castillo to clarify their strengths and weaknesses in the general election.

Cross posted at Jaime Herrera Watch.

Democrat seppuku: The impact of Baird's sell out on the WA-03 and Denny Heck.

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Baird knew he was damaged goods from the moment he relied on a bogus death threat as a reason to avoid facing his constituents.

But we all knew that when push came to shove, Baird would be a solid "yes." on the Obama socialized medicine bill, particularly since his vote has been so easy to buy in the past.

The question for us now is this: what is the impact of his political treason to his district?

Well, he was already counted in the "yes" column for this leftist political sepukku. But the focus now shifts to the rather gutless Denny Heck.

Heck, who apparently failed to learn from Brokaw's cowardice in failing to take positions in the commissioner's election back in 08, has refused to tell us what his vote on this abuse of the people would actually be. And his cowardice equates to a "yes" vote... and his "yes" vote equates to political suicide.

State Senator Craig Pridemore (D-Communist) is already a political dead man walking because of his "pour-gasoline-on-himself-and-light-it" rabid leftist vote which bears no resemblance to what the people of this district want. Combining stupidity with an inability to raise money isn't a career enhancing move.

But now Heck is showing the kind of cowardice he would show in the unfortunate event he were to win this seat. And what we don't need is a clown who lacks any political courage holding this seat.

After all, that's what we've got now... and why would it make any sense to elect two sellouts in a row?

David Castillo, I am sure, thanks Brian Baird for helping him win this district. Heck.... not so much.
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What does Baird's endorsement of Heck mean?

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Our soon-to-be political-late congressman, Brian Baird, has rarely been one for timing.

His "yes" votes on debt-incurring, horrifically expensive bills like the porkulous, which easily violated his self-imposed but frequently ignored 72 hour review rule are proof of that.

So now, in the midst of the most recent stirring of his bogus death threat brouhaha, Baird does Heck the dubious favor of "endorsing" him.

No amount of money will get Heck elected, although he is most likely the best of the leftists running.

His lack of guts in refusing to take a stand on the horrific Health Care (and anything else we can jam in it, like student loans) reform bill is his doom. One need look no farther than Pam Brokaw's failure to take positions on the megacasino and tolls to see that political cowardice doesn't do particularly well as a platform plank.

Adding the "kiss of Baird" to his campaign will not help. Pridemore is a fringe-leftist, reeking with political corruption, so he's out. None of the others are to the right of Marx, so they're out. Looks like the only thing good coming out of this will be money for the Dotzauer slime machine.
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Herrera supporters confuse me; Castillo calls nailing Barbie bad, bad; RNCC calls nailing Pridemore good, good.

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Lately, there's been a massive brouhaha by Herrera's Kool Aid drinkers over the word-for-word accurate robo-call used by David Castillo to tell the 3rd Congressional District about our session-ditching, SEIU supporting, someone-else-voting-for her-while-shes-gone, slurping-at-the-DC-special-interest-trough-during-session-HERE, Ridgefield Barbie.

Man, the outrage, the over-the-top responses, the out and out lies and exaggerations Barbie supporters engaged in as a result of these calls... unbelievable.

As I pointed out with a word-by-word analysis, everything the calls said is true. Of major interest to me is the approach to their commentary.

Where this site, who opposes this cardboard cut out of a representative, questions the zombie-like response of the Herrera Herd, I did so actually posting the "offending" call in question.

Where the Herd bleated its faux anger, I was unable to find any of them who posted the call, and then disputed its contents. There's something quite sickening about that.

And here's where my confusion comes into play.

Apparently, Craig Pridemore's local political deathwish is to be an Obamaton.

That, of course, is his privilege.

Between his corrupt politics, his support of the horrific project known as the I-5 Bridge/Loot rail, his vote to trash I-960, and apparently being a complete Obama tool for health care, including the communistic public option, Pridemore has no chance. None.

To date, he hasn't been able to raise money, and the local fringe whack jobs supporting him, like the fringe whack jobs on the right supporting Herrera, tend to show proof of doom in the primary.

I get that he wants to lock down the fringe left. But to the 80% of the voters to Pridemore's right, positions like these:

"Let me be clear: I believe that Democrats in Congress should pass the bill, include a public option, and if necessary, use the reconciliation process to get it done," he said.

are simply out of the main stream. This sentiment serves to bury Pridemore and his fellow fringers even farther behind any chance of winning the seat.

Of course, if the GOP still had control of Congress and this was on a bill Pridemore didn't like, he'd be bitching like a cut cat if the Republicans were planning to do the same thing... and we can be sure his opposition to such a maneuver would be EVER so principled.

But not even THAT is the point. Pridemore's campaign will collapse soon enough without any particular help from me.

The point is that the Herrera Herd was positively GIDDY over the RNCC calls blasting the positions of the two leading democrats. Major tweeting, re-tweeting, etc.

And that's where I'm confused.

As I said, I posted the "offending" Castillo robo-call, in its entirety. I did that to show that everything in the call was completely factual. I pointed out where members of the Herrera Herd have lied and exaggerated about it's contents, and even have gone so far as attack those wise enough to agree with the contents of the call... which are, after all, completely factual.

So, Castillo does a robo-call, factual in every way. The Herrera Herd wants to draw and quarter him as a result.

The RNCC does a robo-call, apparently not so factual, having rightly indicated that Heck is, apparently, "undecided" (which is a euphemism for being too cowardly to take a position on the issue, given its level of radioactivity in this area and his party's moronic support of the bill) while wrongly indicating the Pridemore was "undecided" in the face of his left-of-Lenin position on the matter.

The result?

The Herrera Herd dances around a rhetorical bonfire the size of Pittsburgh.

So, let me get this straight:

Castillo is savaged for doing a factual call accurately attacking Ridgefield Barbie.

The RNCC is applauded, cheered and generally worshiped for attacking Barbie's presumed democrat competition?

So, it's bad when some people do it, but good when others engage in the process?

So, I admit it. The Herrera Herd confuses me.

Crossposted at Jaime Herrera Watch.
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A look at the 3rd Congressional money situation.

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A fascinating report came out showing the strengths and weaknesses in terms of fund raising, the "mother's milk of politics," of those candidates running for the now abandoned seat of the WA03 for Congress.

That report was the most recent fund raiser results, which included the last Q of 2009. The numbers are from opensecrets.org.

It's no surprise that Denny Heck has taken the early and substantial lead in these numbers: he dropped a cool $100G of his own cash into the pot to get things rolling.

Like most in the party of class warfare, little is made of their personal wealth. There is little doubt that Heck will put together the biggest bankroll for this race, mostly because he not only can do that; but hell, the man is even capable of getting a state governor to violate the letter, if not the spirit and intent of the law prohibiting her from raising money or using government facilities to campaign for someone else during session.

It's got to be cool to have a governor in your pocket.

So, Heck has put together an impressive $215G...but an amount not quite so impressive when you realize that almost half of it came from one source: the candidate. Heck's fund raising base is an eclectic group, if by eclectic you mean lawyers, consultants and those high up in Washington State Government. They provided, by far, most of his donated cash.

Of particular note in Heck's fundraising realm is Strategies 360, a nice little band that has, through Ron Dotzauer (Of "Boinking Ms. Cantwell" fame) successfully enabled David Barnett to buy an election using money illegally laundered through Progressive Majority for Steve "I'll take it in unmarked bills" Stuart, our most senior county commissioner. Dotzhauer and those connected to him have dropped a paltry $14,000 or so of the $115G Heck has actually raised, all by themselves.

Nothing quite like that one stop shopping!

Next up is David Castillo, leading Republican candidate who was one of 3 slogging along in the trenches before the Queen of Opportunism jumped into the race... and his hard work shows with almost twice as much as his nearest competitor on the "R" side.... at $104G

The Republican Empty Suit, Jaime Herrera has struggled to raise money, when one considers she's the rough equivalent of a wind up toy: Stuff a key in her back, aim her in whatever direction you want, turn the key and the rest takes care of itself.

Normally, a $55G quarter would be rather impressive... until you see that the money in question comes primarily from a whole EIGHT donors.

Then?

Not so much.

Here's a hint, Jaime. When they hand you a list of pre-greased donors? Especially those who've never heard of you?

Make sure you dial "1" BEFORE the area code.... OK?

Jon Russell continues to fade. Herrera's opportunism cost Russell any chance he may have delusional felt he had... and now she's gonna suck all the money out of his room like a turbo-charged Hoover.

Jon's showing $28G, total, proving than his fundraising skills are on par with his political skills.... thus capping off an around $12G quarter.

Deb Wallace, according to the Columbian, has reported $23,000, but I can't find that on the FEC site.

The biggest surprise was the abysmal report submitted by democrat State Sen. Craig "we balanced this budget on the backs of the poor and the powerless, so I'm voting for it" Pridemore.

Because Pridemore has gerrymandered tax districts; rabidly supports the massive waste of billions of dollars known as the bridge and loot rail, and his special-favor for his buddy Steve "cold hard Barnett cash" Stuart, so he could keep $50,000 or so in campaign contributions for a bill Pridemore was running back in what.... 05; he has no chance, anyway. In fact, he and Deb Wallace are "dead men walking" because of their idiotic bridge shenanigans... their political corpses just haven't got the memo.

Pridemore's less than stellar $8,569 SHOULD be sending him a message.

David Hedrick checks in, almost matching the fund raising prowess of Pridemore with $7,216. That's not a bad number for a political neophyte in this kind of climate.

Local illegal alien cheerleader Maria Rodriguez-Salazar won't raise cab fare and is wasting every ones time acting like a candidate... a candidate who has, apparently, yet to even file FEC paperwork.

Is it early? Of course it is. And, unless you're a highly placed democrat, unaffected by the Obama recession, it will be increasingly difficult to find donors with disposable cash to play... thus adding politics to the list of the "Sports of Kings."

Heck will be difficult to beat on the leftist side. He's got the cash and the support of the democrat infrastructure, plus he's unsullied (for now) by the Pridemore/Wallace bridge idiocy.

Castillo is unquestionably the most qualified, followed by my pet Cavalier Spaniel Oliver, Russell, Herrera, and lastly, Hedrick.

Do overall qualifications matter?

They should. Look what happened when we elected an empty suit for president? So, why would we compound that error again?

Meanwhile, these numbers DO count. Even those where all you have to do to get the cash is pick up a check.

Right, Jaime?

Cross posted on Jaime Herrera Watch.
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BREAKING: Gregoire breaks the law raising money for Denny Heck.

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ABC affiliate KOMO TV in Seattle has reported that Gregoire has violated state election laws for Denny Heck, democrat candidate in the 3rd Congressional District.

Gregoire breaking state campaign finance laws

By CURT WOODWARD Associated Press Writer

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Summary

State regulators say Gov. Chris Gregoire is violating campaign finance law by
raising money for a congressional candidate.

Comments (4)

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - State regulators say Gov. Chris Gregoire is violating
campaign finance law by raising money for a congressional candidate.

Gregoire's campaign committee sent out an e-mail Wednesday afternoon
endorsing Democrat Denny Heck for Congress in southwest Washington's 3rd
District.

The e-mail encourages donations to Heck, and includes links to the donation page on his Web site.

But state regulators say that's not allowed under state law, which bans state elected officials from most political fundraising for candidates during the legislative session.

Gregoire's campaign could not immediately be reached for comment. Heck's campaign didn't immediately return messages seeking comment

Is Denny Heck just more of the same?

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We already know Herrera certainly is. But what about Heck?

As I follow the process, Denny Heck's name has come up many times for the 3rd Congressional, and I thought I'd share a few of my initial impressions.

Like all but 3 candidates for this seat, Heck suffers from a lack of, well, guts.

The 3 candidates I refer to are Castillo, Hedrick and Russell.

The other candidates, each and every one of them (including Heck) are engaging in rank political opportunism, not unlike buzzards scavenging a dead cow.

For the congressional campaign, we need to face the fact that we never would have heard of Heck, Herrera, Wallace, Pridemore, McKibben, Salazar, Crist or anyone else announcing since Baird's timely departure from the local political scene.

While so far unsullied by the despicable nonsense and waste of the multi-billion dollar fraud that is the unneeded and unwanted bridge replacement along with loot rail and the imposition of what amounts to a $1300 surcharge to 65,000 voters in this district, is their any doubt that Heck won't become a proponent for that project? A project that will screw the very people he wants to, allegedly, "Serve?"

ALL candidates need to take a position on this. Those supporting it; or, in the alternative, attempting to "Brokaw" the message; that is, refusing to take a pro OR con position on the issue, will suffer politically as a result.

ALL candidates running need to explain, in excruciating detail, what efforts they intend to make to kill the Cowlitz Criminal Megacasino. Again, those refusing to take a position or supporting that massive economic black hole for out of area interests will suffer accordingly.

ALL candidates need to explain how they would have voted differently then Baird on the Porkulus, Cap and Swindle, and Obama's socialist health care bill. Further, unlike Baird, would you have the guts to require a 72 hour window to vote "yes" on any bill? Continuing the theme, those who would just be the mirror image of Baird? Politically problematic.

Specific to democrats, a brand that becomes increasingly damaged by the day, just BEING a democrat will be a severe handicap in the upcoming election.

As the democrat House, controlled by the Belle of Botox, Nancy Pelosi, continues to turn an increasingly deaf ear to what We The People actually want; it becomes problematic to explain to the voter why we should make her stronger by sending a democrat... well... anywhere, let alone to Congress.

Going back specifically to Heck, this was not a good start for him.

Inaccuracy in staking out a claim comes perilously close to lying and exaggerating at least as bad as Herrera. For example, Heck claims:

“I’m the only practicing capitalist in this race. Nobody has to teach me that 70 percent of jobs are created by small businesses. I’ve done that.”

As despicable a person and candidate as Russell is, the paper was right in addressing that claim:

In fact, Republican congressional candidate Jon Russell, a Washougal city councilor who owns a family health clinic, might consider himself a “practicing capitalist” as well.

Words have meanings, Mr. Heck. Your "depth and breadth of experience" should have taught you that.

And, I appreciate the fact that the unemployment rate is one of your chief concerns. But Like all democrats supporting this empty suited, hypocritical anti-American racist bigot, you are going to have to explain to us precisely what you intend to do to help stop the ACORN in Chief from screwing up our economy even more than he already has.

"Stimulating job growth" is primarily done with tax cuts. What taxes are you going to fight to cut, and how much?

Engaging in idiocy like calling "Clark County my home" since you haven't lived here in 25 years, does nothing to help your cause. Clark County is a different PLANET then it was when you lived here. This is NOT your home, and no amount of claiming that it is makes it so. In fact, such claims tend to show you both as a liar and a moron.

That you're willing to twist words and spin messages this way is particularly troubling. In short, don't pee on our legs and tell us it's raining.

LYING in this day and age like that is not what we want in our congressional candidate.

So, Mr. Heck, you have a lot of work to do. If you're going to be "clear-eyed" about something, be "clear-eyed" about the truth. And this article, today, has you saying things that are false.

Continue to lie, and, well, you might as well keep your money... because you ain't winning.

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2010 is shaping up as a bloodbath for the left: Dem recruits continue to head for the exits.

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As the inevitable continues to take shape, it's becoming clearer that the result of the first year of the Obama Administration will be the wholesale political slaughter of the left.

The dutiful inability of the left to think for themselves shows in their votes on highly unpopular and now proven-to-be-failed policies that the empty suit running the show is jamming down our throats NOW, because he's been counting on the classic themes of the short-attention span of the American voter in the future; namely that he will be able to capitalize on his own increasingly dubious personal popularity while spending the next 3 years convincing the now-raped American population that it was our idea to begin with.

Of course, the now-recognized problem on the part of the so-called "Blue Dog" democrats is that they recognize that they will be the sacrificial lambs in the process.

Obama, Pelosi and Reid are selling them out.

Others looking at coming in or staying are seeing that as well. The result?

Dem recruits continue to head for exits
By Aaron Blake - 12/31/09 10:55 AM ET

Democrats have lost yet another touted recruit, this time in Kansas.

State Sen. Laura Kelly (D) just announced her withdrawal from the race to face Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.). She becomes the fifth formidable recruit to bow out in recent weeks.

“I have been forced to make a decision between honoring the pledge I made to the people in my Senate district and my firm conviction that the people of the 2nd congressional district deserve a truly independent voice in Congress," Kelly said in a statement.

“This has been a very hard decision, but it is the right one.”

Kelly joins several recent dropouts, including businessman Jack McDonald, a well-funded challenger to Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) who announced last week that he wouldn't run. The others are Ohio state Rep. Todd Book, who was running against Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio); former Tennessee Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Paula Flowers, who was running for Rep. Zach Wamp's (R-Tenn.) seat; and Solana Beach City Councilman Dave Roberts, who was running against Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.).

Both McDonald and Kelly were cited in a late October memo from DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen (Md.) that touted the committee's recruiting successes.

On top of that, Democrats have lost four incumbents in vulnerable districts to retirement recently. It has been a distinct shift, taking five seats off the map on offense and adding four on defense.

As one of the five seats in question (so far) there can be no doubt that the question here locally is this: How much will this obvious damage to the leftist brand hurt the democrats right here in the WA03?

The strongest democrat running is, by far, Denny Heck.

He's made enough money to self-fund, and he's unsullied by Wallace's waste of tens of millions of dollars on an unwanted and unneeded bridge replacement with loot rail; and Pridemore's corruption on campaign financing and gerrymandering the loot rail operations vote to exclude tens of thousands of Clark County voters who would oppose this massive waste from having a say, while not excluding any of us from paying this massive tax increase.

Crist has no chance. Fringe left isn't going to sell this year.

Salazar has no chance. She knows that; this entire process isn't a serious effort to do anything but raise her profile as chief spokesman for illegal aliens,

But Heck has a the same problem mentioned in the article: he's a democrat. And just BEING a democrat may be problematic considering the massive, generation-long damage they've done to our country in just the past year... so far.

It's the economy, stupid. And under their watch, it's tanked beyond belief.

And having a total clown as president doesn't help your mid-term election prospects at all.
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Denny Heck will run for the 3rd CD.

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Like many out there, he doesn't happen to think that Wallace is the brightest bulb on the tree.

He's right, of course, but here's a warning to the left:

You cannot support that massive waste of billions on a bridge replacement and loot rail and win. Period.
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