King Co. GOP Chair Sotelo likes Reichert's chances

MINNEAPOLIS - Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn) has consistently shown up on lists of vulnerable Republican House incumbents in 2008, just two years removed from a close race in 2006 in a district that voted for John Kerry. Among those is the Pindell Report, which showed Reichert's rematch with Democrat Darcy Burner as the country's most competitive.

Still, he won the primary on August 19 by four percent and it was just revealed that the National Republican Congressional Committee was dedicating a million dollars toward advertising on behalf of his campaign. Both are signs that his race will be close, but that Reichert may have a slight edge. King County Republican Party Chair Lori Sotelo agrees.

"I believe Reichert has an excellent chance," Sotelo said of this November. "He showed well in the primaries and he is, in my opinion, the superior candidate. He is stronger on the issues. I believe that every term he serves there he has just gotten so much better and so much more in touch with his district. I am very proud of him."

Better still, in Sotelo's view, Reichert may have a downhill path from here to November.

"Absolutely he has got the momentum," she said of Reichert's last two weeks. "The grassroots is excited, especially now with Sarah Palin on the ticket. The Republicans are going to come out, the grassroots are definitely going to come out, which is going to help Reichert considerably."

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