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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Related Coverage, Page 7

Lots of help for undecided voters

Lots of help for undecided voters

Inboxes become political arenas

The fight for Washington’s U.S. Senate seat is not just waged at rallies, in debates and on the airwaves. It’s a daily e-mail battle from the two sides trying to get attention from local and national press on their key talking points of the day.

Mailings stretch truth in Marr, Baumgartner race

It’s with little doubt the nastiest battle this year for a local office. In a second in a series, we examine some of the claims made on behalf of incumbent Democratic state Sen. Chris Marr and his Republican opponent, Michael Baumgartner, in the race to represent the 6th Legislative District.

Ads put state official in middle of I-1082 fight

As if Initiative 1082 weren’t confusing enough, television commercials for the opposing sides now feature the same person: State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. Kreidler is against the proposal, as he says on a commercial for the No on I-1082 Committee and in the state voters pamphlet. It would make the state’s current system for workers’ compensation into a good deal for insurance companies and a bad deal for unprotected workers, he argues.

French, Mager issue accusations on ethics

County Commissioner Bonnie Mager and her general election challenger, former Spokane City Councilman Al French, peppered each other Tuesday with allegations of unethical conduct. As in a similar exchange earlier this month, French fired first and Mager blasted back.

Ballot stats: Turn-in jumps on Tuesday

Ballot stats: Turn-in jumps on Tuesday

Marr, Baumgartner ramp up the rhetoric

It may soon be the million-dollar race. And with so much money, voters’ mailboxes and television sets are filled with a lot of information – and misinformation – about the state Senate candidates who hope to represent Spokane’s 6th Legislative District. Incumbent Democrat Chris Marr and Republican Michael Baumgartner have had many spirited debates. More than 20 mailers have been sent by or on behalf of them.

Parties’ big guns stump for Senate foes Murray, Rossi

First Lady Michelle Obama tried to help get Patty Murray re-elected by telling a luncheon crowd to get “fired up.” U.S. Sen. John McCain tried to boost Republican Dino Rossi’s chances of joining him in the Senate by saying Murray “engages in a corrupt practice.” With eight days left in the election, Washington’s Senate race was dominated by surrogates Monday.

Election staff breached security

A security breach in the Spokane County election office was precipitated by delivery of thousands of ballot envelopes with Auditor Vicky Dalton’s name on them. Republicans have complained that Dalton, a Democrat, is electioneering when she places her name on mail-in ballot envelopes.

Marr and Baumgartner: Workers’ compensation

Washington state Sen. Chris Marr, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Michael Baumgartner answer the question, “Do you support Initiative 1082, which would privatize workers’ compensation?”

Michelle Obama, McCain enter Wash. Senate race fray

First Lady Michelle Obama tried to help get Patty Murray re-elected by telling a luncheon crowd to get “fired up.” U.S. Sen. John McCain tried to boost to Republican Dino Rossi’s chances of joining him in the Senate by saying Murray “engages in a corrupt practice.”

Michelle Obama: Get fired up

Michelle Obama: Get fired up

Today’s fun video: A gleeful spot from IL

Today’s fun video: A gleeful spot from IL

McCain: Murray part of ‘corrupt process’

McCain: Murray part of ‘corrupt process’

Last chance to register

Last chance to register

Voter registration deadline is today

Washington state residents must be registered to vote by today to cast a ballot in the Nov. 2 general election. All registered voters in Eastern Washington should have received their ballots in the mail by now. People can check their registration status at www.vote.wa.gov or www.spokanecounty.org/elections and select the “My Vote” icon.

Monday’s it. Get registered or sit election out

Monday’s it. Get registered or sit election out

Otter and Allred on election issues

Here’s a look at how Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and Democratic challenger Keith Allred differ on big issues in the race: • SCHOOL FUNDING: Otter approved an unprecedented 7.5 percent cut for public schools this year; he said it was unavoidable in the state’s budget crunch, and that when the economy improves, schools will be the first to get funding back. Allred says the cut was unneeded, as the state low-balled the revenue estimates used to set the budget and could have filled vacant tax auditor positions to collect taxes due but not collected. He pledges to protect schools from budget cuts.

To avoid any questions, next time Obama should come to Spokane

To avoid any questions, next time Obama should come to Spokane

District judges’ schedules hard to track

District judges’ schedules hard to track