Stop the Attacks, Let’s Elect Republicans

“A small band of misplaced critics have made incorrect claims about Herrera’s record, with wild insinuations about ‘Big Labor.’  In reality, large arms of organized labor engaged in the campaign are endorsing the closest thing to an Establishment candidate in the race:  Democrat Denny Heck.”

I’m a conservative who spends a lot of time volunteering for Republican candidates. I give my time, money and efforts to campaigns of GOP candidates who bravely step forward to run for public office. However, I draw the line when a Republican candidate chooses to make dishonest attacks on fellow Republicans instead of focusing on their own qualifications for office. Yesterday, Dick Armey of FreedomWorks circulated a troubling fundraising email for David Castillo.

In Washington State we have a top two primary. Each candidate is running for one of only two spots on the general election ballot. By choosing to attack only one other candidate, a fellow Republican, David Castillo and FreedomWorks are sending the clear message that they are ceding the first spot to the Democrats and are focused on using negative attacks to beat out another Republican for second place.

I don’t begrudge FreedomWorks inflating their candidate a little. If they want to call working for them on a grassroots campaign 10 years ago “a long track record of fighting on behalf of lower taxes and limited government”, fine. Having never held elective office, they are free to assign to David Castillo a record of conservative purity.

But lacking any real evidence that David Castillo is to the right of Jaime Herrera on the issues, they instead try to falsely define her record in the Legislature. These misrepresentations include falsely stating Herrera’s position on “Card Check” (she opposes it).

Herrera has made her position clear; she is adamantly opposed to compulsory unionization and Card Check, she has never supported them and never will. But you don’t just have to take her word for it. In 2008, Herrera was endorsed by every major business group in Washington State, including the Association of Washington Business, NFIB, Independent Business Association of Washington, Washington Restaurant Association and others. In her first full term in the House, fellow Republicans elected Herrera Assistant Minority Floor Leader. In this race, she has been endorsed by former Senator Slade Gorton, and former WA-03 US Representative Linda Smith (who I’m sure Dick Armey remembers from the “Class of ‘94”).

The names of WA-03 business owners who support Herrera are a virtual who’s who in the state. Indeed, people like Arch Miller, Jerry Nutter, Craig Stein, Larry Hoff and many others who drive WA-03 economics are on board with the Herrera campaign. Herrera’s list of endorsements also include prominent party leaders like Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Vice Chair of the GOP Conference, but also many State Legislators.

It’s just not the way the grassroots like to see politics done here in SW Washington. Grassroots and Tea Party members who attended the recent caucus and conventions in the seven counties that make up the 3rd Congressional District voiced their support of Herrera. Cowlitz and Pacific Counties had unanimous votes at their conventions to give an unusual pre-primary endorsement to Jaime Herrera. Every one of these people fully vetted the issue of Jaime’s supposed “union love” and deemed it untrue. It’s just silly to suggest that these endorsements would go to a candidate who “votes on behalf of her union bosses”.

FreedomWorks is so out of touch with what is going on in the WA-03 that they missed the recent headlines. News flash – Big Labor is endorsing the Democrats in the race – Heck and Pridemore. Dick Armey needs to do his homework before sending out such a dumb email.

I know that politics ain’t beanbag. But with our current primary system, this kind of disreputable tactic seems unlikely to help get Republicans elected, and most likely to result in a general election with two Democrats. And we already know how those two will vote.

Poll: Will it be Herrera vs. Pridemore in WA-03?

According to the results of our two unscientific web polls (see here and here), rising GOP star Jaime Herrera looks poised to take on veteran Democrat Craig Pridemore. Of course, the primary is still many months away. Much could happen to change the current landscape, including the entrance of better known, and financial heavyweight challengers on both sides. Alternatively, one of the other candidates already in the race could make a move, and slingshot past either apparent frontrunner in our poll.

The sample size on the Democratic side was indeed small (n=37) — but Pridemore finished on top of the candidates included with 11 votes, or 30% (with “Other” taking 43%, or 16 votes).

However, on the GOP side, Herrera finished above the 50% mark with 361 votes cast. A late surge by Jon Russell ate into Herrera’s lead, but Russell was not able to catch up. Olympia financial adviser and former Bush appointee David Castillo, who was the first to throw his hat in the ring against Baird, had a strong early showing but never gained steam.

So what does all this mean, especially considering this was an unscientific poll of Internet visitors to a small corner of the blogosphere?  Gauging enthusiasm for candidates online is important in and of itself.  In every poll participant is a potential online donor, campaign volunteer, or online activist, willing to engage in the race.  So while the field may look different come next August, taking a pulse online now, may just provide an interesting glimpse into how things shape up.

WA-03 GOP Primary Poll