House

This week's Winners & Losers are now posted.

Presidents have (very) occassionaly favored Washingtonians with prominent appointments. Our senators' replies to whether they wanted to be vice president led us to look into other Washingtonians in presidential administrations.

U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott has just endorsed Barack Obama for president. He is the last of Washington's elected superdelegates to pledge their support to a candidate for president and joins U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, Gov. Chris Gregoire, and U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen in supporting the Illinois senator.

Here is what he had to say:

"I am proud to endorse Barack Obama today, because I believe he will bring us together to achieve the kind of change we need in this country moving forward. As Democrats, we are fortunate to have two very talented public servants running to be the nominee of our party, and I have great respect for Senator Clinton. But I believe now is the time to unite behind Barack Obama so we can be in the strongest place possible to win in November. Barack Obama has chosen to spend his career speaking out for those who need a voice and reaching across the aisle to bring change that matters in the lives of working families. I am confident that as president, Barack Obama will end the war in Iraq and bring our sons and daughters home, he will make universal health care a reality and he will restore our moral standing in the world. Barack Obama won the race in my home state by an overwhelming margin and I am thankful that so many new voters have become engaged because of the kind of campaign he has run, and I am happy to support him today."

Eric Earling over at Sound Politics has a fascinating take on what fundraising really means. Seems Dino Rossi needed a little pep talk after being beaten, handily and consistently, by Governor Chris Gregoire in the money take.

Rather than invest in clean alternatives, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers wants to increase our dependence on Canadian oil. Her recent trade mission to Alberta aimed to do just that.

Shirley Hankins steps aside with class while Tim Eyman mortgages his house. Here are Washington state's Winners and Losers for May 9, 2008.

Republican Rick Bart, the former Snohomish County Sheriff running for Congress in District 2, has just launched his campaign website, http:http://www.electrickbart.com.

He is running against incumbent Rick Larsen, who is currently in the news for endorsing Barack Obama Thursday.  Larsen's website is http://www.ricklarsen.org/.

And don't forget to vote in this week's Cartoon Caption Contest. Voting ends on Friday at noon.

Washington state Republicans are getting some publicity help from a higher source. The Republican National Committee sent out an e-mail to media today urging them to check out the Washington State Republican Party's latest attack video.

This spot goes after 8th District Democratic candidate Darcy Burner by painting her as inexperienced and inappropriate. It begins with a black screen and text that reads, "Darcy Burner is running for Congress again...with the same thin resume voters rejected in 2006." This comes just two days after her opponent, Rep. Dave Reichert, was listed by Roll Call as one of the ten most endangered incumbents in Congress.

Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn)U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn) earned a dubious distinction in the pages of Roll Call, the newspaper that focuses on congressional politics. Yesterday, the former King County sheriff was featured in an early edition of the newspaper's "10 Most Vulnerable" House incumbents list.

Reichert, involved in a high-profile rematch of 2006 with challenger Darcy Burner (D-Carnation) in the 8th congressional district, was chosen along with four other Republicans and five Democrats from across the country, including well known names such as the scandal embroiled Don Young (R-Alaska) and Nick Lampson (D-Texas), who represents a disrict that heavily favors Republicans.

Here is Roll Call's Josh Kurtz' quick take on the race:

It's tough to go from hero cop to endangered incumbent in such a short stretch of time, but that's the former King County sheriff's fate in a suburban Seattle district that is steadily becoming more Democratic. Reichert still has a reservoir of good will to draw from as he fights off Democrat Darcy Burner for the second straight cycle. But Burner has become a more polished and confident campaigner - and has outpaced the incumbent on the fundraising front for the past few quarters.