Spokane7
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September 30, 2011 in City
Baumgartner to run for Cantwell’s Senate seat
Baumgartner
(Full-size photo)
After less than a year in the state Senate, Michael Baumgartner plans to run for the other Senate in the other Washington by entering the race against Democrat Maria Cantwell.
Baumgartner, a Republican who won the most expensive legislative race in state history last year in Spokane’s 6th District, told a Seattle television station he will announce his campaign against Cantwell next week.
The former State Department officer has been rumored for weeks to be considering the race, but said as recently as Wednesday he planned to take the weekend to talk with family before making a decision. But in an interview with KING-TV taped Friday for that station’s weekly news magazine, he says he’ll run.
That would make him the first Republican to announce a campaign against two-term incumbent Cantwell, who easily defeated Seattle businessman Mike McGavick in 2006 by about 350,000 votes. A former legislator and one-term U.S. representative, Cantwell was first elected to the Senate in 2000, defeating Republican Slade Gorton in a close race.
Baumgartner said earlier this week that if he runs, one of his main issues will be foreign policy and the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He served in both countries while in the State Department and currently lectures on the Middle East.
Democrats appear poised to label Baumgartner as an opportunist who is using his election to the Legislature as a stepping stone to higher office. During a campaign appearance last year, he denied opponent Chris Marr’s contention that he’d use the Senate seat that way, arguing Marr was projecting his own ambitions.
Although there is more than a year before the 2012 election, part of Baumgartner’s time during that period is spoken for. As a legislator, he faces a special session on the state’s budget problems that starts Nov. 28, and a regular, 60-day session that starts in January.
Earlier, when Baumgartner said he was considering the race, he said he wouldn’t give up his state Senate seat, but instead would cut back on outside employment.
As a candidate just entering the race, Baumgartner immediately faces several obstacles. One is money. Cantwell had raised $2.7 million as of July 1, the last date federal candidates were required to report, even though she had no announced opponent.
Another is name recognition. As a freshman legislator from one of 49 districts, Baumgartner is relatively unknown and will need to spend money to become familiar to the state’s voters.
The third is geography. About 75 percent of the state’s voters live in Western Washington, where Baumgartner is an unknown quantity. No candidate from Eastern Washington has won a U.S. Senate seat since C.C. Dill in 1928. George Nethercutt, a Congressman who’d served five terms in the House after defeating Speaker Tom Foley, was the last to try. He lost to Democrat Patty Murray in 2004.
Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules 
Hunterman on September 30 at 5:30 p.m.
Hoo boy. We get to chose between a right wing nut or a left wing nut. Again.
Shadedmuse on September 30 at 5:50 p.m.
The so called people the Carpet-bagging-tea-bagger talk to were the Evel Koclh Brothers and Carl Rove, and the voters of Washington state are smarter then that and will line up and Vote to Re-elect Cantwell and Obama and send Jay Inslee to Gov Mansion.
HERE ARE VOICE its louder then the Tea-baggers voice.
Pat O'Leary on September 30 at 5:59 p.m.
I guy who has never been heard of west of Cheney. Fat chance this will pan out.
Dazzeetrader11 on September 30 at 6:44 p.m.
“HERE ARE VOICE” its louder then the Tea-baggers voice.
Shaded..it must be the drugs you’re taking. Go to a 10 yr old spelling course.
Meanwhile…It’s a long shot but it’ll be a much better race with the esteemed Mr B in it. At least he’s got the courage to run againt the left. I hope Marr won’t move back to carpetbag.
Besides, Mike will hang onto his Senate job while trying the bigger leagues. He did a sterling job in the St Senate.
Go Mike!
Already I’m sending money to him.!
lowtechmaster on September 30 at 7:04 p.m.
Well, given his VAST experience in politics…and his statement earlier that he was NOT after such a position…why should anyone vote for him??
Shadedmuse on September 30 at 7:11 p.m.
Bumgartner is a joke in the state senate, and voters are smarter not to vote for him.
Chris Mar should take on Cathy the talking points queen Mcmorris for the House seat. Chris mar is after all local unlike Bumgartner the carpet bagger.
HERE ARE VOICE its louder then the tea-baggers.
Now if you excuse me I will go and eat Ben ANd Jerrys newest Ice cream Flavour, inspired by the tea-baggers.
Hunterman on September 30 at 7:20 p.m.
Actually, there a lot of indoctrinated, brainwashed people that only listen to one side of the ‘debate’ that do vote for these people.
misjustice on September 30 at 7:21 p.m.
Cantwell for the EASY win!
I love it when Dazzee corrects the spelling of other folks! Thanks for the giggles, D, it was a looooong day at the office and I needed some comic relief!
; )
Where’s MY tax cut?
DickAdams on September 30 at 7:31 p.m.
When Cantwell, was running for senate the first time, she was “bragging” she would not accept funding from the federal campaign money and lied about it. After she discovered Uncle Sam was such a soft touch she put her spend thrift hands into the govmint cash register and did in fact, grabbed as much as she could from Uncle Sams campaign (our) money. At least Baumgartner is the lesser of two evils. I`m willing to at least give him a chance. I know what Cantwell will do. Cantwell shall again brag to the voters that she is investigating the high gasoline prices. She has made that same comment several times and no results. Typical lip service.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on September 30 at 7:48 p.m.
Oh dazzee calling ANYONE out for there spelling is priceless. Like misj said, that was good for a laugh after a long day.
As for this carpetbagging tea bagging loser, I hope he runs…..lets see how his carpetbagging lying ways play in the rest of the state. His campaign commercial against Marr was DISGRACEFUL and if he does make it through the primary to actually be able to take on Cantwell, I hope that is one of the first thing she attacks….his disgraceful lying during his campaign…..then go after his tea bagging butt and point out all his money comes from the Koch Brothers, Karl Rove and Dick Armey.
This guy is a disgusting loser and will get his a** handed to him in the election. Its days like this I am glad I live in a liberal haven like Washington and know losers like this never have a chance to represent me.
Now…..we just need to do something about Cathy McMorris Rogers. I also hope Chris Marr will run against her, I think he would have a good chance against a woman who has no record at all of helping people in her district and all she is good for is standing behind her party leaders during press conferences to just smile and look pretty.
Also as bonus, there is a VERY good chance the 5th district that Cathy represents shrinks and becomes more concentrated on Spokane taking away some very crucial rural republican votes. She could be VERY vulnerable in 2012.
Shadedmuse on September 30 at 8:29 p.m.
Hey Liberal, Wisconsiin is a Progressive state and yet the most Progressive senator feinstein was defeated by a Koch Brothers puppet. Because democratic voters did not show up. unlike Washington state where Democratic voters showed up to vote and made Rossi a three time LOSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As for Dick Adams learn how to Spell GOUVERNMENT!!!!!!!! its not govmint. its GOUVERNMENT!!!!!!!!!! Like VANCOUVER!!!!!!!
Dazzeetrader11 on September 30 at 9:31 p.m.
You’re welcome to prove this Liberal in sissyland.. ” go after his tea bagging butt and point out all his money comes from the Koch Brothers, Karl Rove and Dick Armey. ” I do like your “go after…” phrasing though. Right up your alley…lolol
A little hostility under your “skirts”? Prove it. Show us all that MB had any money from any of those three. Is MB too manly for you?
mdriftmeyer on September 30 at 10:04 p.m.
Good. Can’t wait to see him destroyed in the race.
mdriftmeyer on September 30 at 10:06 p.m.
@Shadedmuse: Wisconsin is a 50/50 state. Do your homework and research the breakdown at the State Legislation. The Republicans own the House, Senate and Governorship, but by a very slim margin.
In 2012 they will lose the House and Senate, not to mention Walker will be added as a recall.
mdriftmeyer on September 30 at 10:13 p.m.
I don’t see Chris Marr being strong enough to knock off the birther, no matter how pathetic her track record, without a serious amount of financial support to expose her lack of record and embarrassing record of taking credit for the current administration’s stimulus funds she voted against every time.
Rogers is the wealthy person who expects to show up to events where everything is given to her—all on the house.
Seeing her behind Cantor, Bachmann, Boehner and the rest of the dimly lit has not surprised me that she hasn’t managed to get advanced research funding for WSU, EWU or even GU.
All of that money has come from a mix of business interests and Democrat members at the State, WSU, EWU, GU, and in the US Senate.
Only Spokane would vote out Foley after one term as Speaker of the House, put in Nethercutt and go to the back of the line.
The same genius continues to recycle mayoral leadership every 4 years. It’s amazing the city hasn’t imploded over the years.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on September 30 at 10:21 p.m.
Wow, that Baumgartner sure has nice teeth.
misjustice on September 30 at 10:25 p.m.
The better to bite you with, my pretty!
; )
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on September 30 at 11:14 p.m.
hmmmm
Scoutster on September 30 at 11:15 p.m.
An interesting move…probably figures this is his best time to make the try, but he’s really running for Gov or another office
—not giving up a seat;
—gets statewide recognition;
—a few bucks from the national, but he won’t come close to MC;
—low expectations.
Hmmm…not much downside from his point of view
Shadedmuse on October 01 at 12:26 a.m.
this guy is more sleazer then three time loser Rossi. at least the weezel king nethercutt packed it in when murrey trounced him.
drywitt99 on October 01 at 4:05 a.m.
Well……ONE seat the teabagging Republicans won’t pick up!!
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on October 01 at 7:29 a.m.
from your mouth to dog’s ear, drywitt