Election Center
Related Coverage, Page 7
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.
Obama joined by Murray during Seattle backyard meeting
SEATTLE – Voters should be skeptical of Republican candidates calling for smaller budgets and ask what they’d cut, President Barack Obama said Thursday. Appearing in a northeast Seattle neighborhood for a “backyard conversation” with about 35 local residents, Obama hit on two things that could be key to Washington’s U.S. Senate race: Federal spending and female voters.
Obama challenges GOP on cuts
SEATTLE — President Barack Obama used a “backyard conversation” in a northeast Seattle neighborhood to defend his policies and ask voters to demand details from Republicans.
District judges’ schedules difficult to track
An effort to prevent political use of information about their daily duties seems to have backfired on Spokane County District Court judges. Instead, they handed critics an opportunity to accuse them of being secretive.
Clark: Debate ends with Texas up 3 games
DOUG’S 5th DISTRICT DEBATE DIARY: Tuesday, 6:59 p.m. – Here I am, flopped on the couch in front of my big Sony HD flat screen. The off again/on again drama between U.S. Rep. Cathy “Big Mama” McMorris Rodgers and her Democrat opponent, Daryl “Raindrops” Romeyn, is over. The candidates finally stopped making up stories about their imaginary scheduling commitments and are about to square off for a televised debate.
Stevens says he voted for Malone
Dave Stevens, a Republican who lost his bid this summer for Spokane County prosecutor to incumbent Republican Steve Tucker and Democrat Frank Malone, said Wednesday that he cast his vote for Malone in the Nov. 2 election.
Trick or what?
None
McMorris Rodgers, Romeyn clash in TV debate
Democratic challenger Daryl Romeyn tried to paint Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers as a do-nothing incumbent who has no solutions for federal deficits, illegal immigration, high school dropouts or childhood obesity. McMorris Rodgers suggested Romeyn was someone who didn’t understand complex forest issues and would tax small businesses out of existence and set off a trade war with China.
Murray-Rossi race a statistical dead heat
WASHINGTON – With two weeks to go, the Washington state U.S. Senate race is a virtual dead heat, with Democratic Sen. Patty Murray holding a 1-point lead, 48 percent to 47 percent, over Republican challenger Dino Rossi among likely voters, according to a McClatchy-Marist poll released Tuesday. The outcome could determine whether Republicans pick up the 10 seats they need to regain control of the Senate.
Stimulus hot topic in race for Congress
BOISE – Republican Raul Labrador and Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick are at odds over a series of letters sent by Minnick and other Idaho lawmakers seeking support of projects using federal stimulus money. Labrador attacked Minnick earlier this week for campaigning against government spending when the congressman supported the use of stimulus funds to expand broadband Internet in rural Idaho.
McMorris Rodgers, Romeyn spar over jobs, immigration
Democratic challenger Daryl Romeyn tried to paint Cathy McMorris Rodgers as a do-nothing incumbent who has no solutions for federal deficits, illegal immigration, high school dropouts or childhood obesity. McMorris Rodgers suggested Romeyn was someone who didn’t understand complex forest issues and would tax small businesses out of existence and set off a trade war with China.