Continuing to weigh the Rossi factor
Dino Rossi continues to be some Democrats' favorite choice for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat.
Spin Control continues to be in the "I'm from Missouri" mode on that. (Actually, I am from Missouri, but that's a whole separate narrative.)
On "will run" side of the scale, we can put the fact that Rossi is a featured speaker at the Washington Federation of Republican Women's spring meeting in Chelan this weekend. But Patti Wieland, chairwoman of the Public Relations Committee, said Rossi's been on the schedule since before talk of him running for Senate surfaced.
"He's invited because he's been a candidate in the past. It's not because he's going to run," Wieland said.
On the "won't run" side of the scale: State Sen. Don Benton of Vancouver continues to sign up big-name endorsers who would likely be hesitant to commit if they thought Rossi was getting in. Most recently, House Minority Leader Richard DeBolt of Chehalis and Sen. Joe Zarelli of Ridgefield, the GOP's go-to guy on taxes and budgets, endorsed Benton.
Although candidates don't officially get into the race until filing week in early June, by waiting he misses chances like the Republicans of Spokane County Senate candidates forum this evening at the Convention Center, where nine of the 11 candidates who have announced are expected to appear.
On second thought, passing up a cattle call with 10 candidates on the stage may just be smart.
Still, it seems that right now, the scale is tipped toward him staying out.
