Murray needs to run to catch Nethercutt
Gorgeous George vs. Patsy Patty?
It’s time for Democratic Sen. Patty Murray to lace up her trademark tennis shoes and get off the blocks if she wants to beat Republican challenger George Nethercutt to the finish line in November.
The congressman from Eastern Washington has exploded out of the gate with a brilliant ad salvo, two masterful early campaign maneuvers, and visits from GOP luminaries such as Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.
One of Nethercutt’s first TV commercials, dubbed “Meredith,” might go down as the most effective political ad to air in Washington this year. The spot opens with a cheery young woman saying, “If you’re looking for leaders with character, look what they did before they were elected.” She then describes how Nethercutt helped start a crisis nursery and brought together “thousands of families as an adoption attorney.” Segueing into Nethercutt’s congressional career, the woman notes that he “founded the Diabetes Caucus.” The kicker? She has diabetes, “and George Nethercutt—he’s my dad.” That’s when the congressman enters the frame, wraps a fatherly arm around Meredith’s shoulders and introduces himself to viewers.
Not only does this warm biographical message turn Nethercutt’s attorney background into a positive, it provides a welcome antidote to the Bush-Kerry dogfight currently polluting our airwaves.
The congressman further burnished his image last week by successfully lobbying Major League Baseball to drop its plan to clutter bases with Spiderman logos. That move undoubtedly scored with Mariners fans on the West Side, where Nethercutt’s aiming to make a superheroic first impression.
Both Murray and Nethercutt then claimed victory when the White House decided not to shut down the Walla Walla Veterans Administration hospital. But, Murray’s handwritten plea to the president aside, Bush operatives likely spared the facility to boost Nethercutt’s standing. So it’s been a fantastic few weeks for the man who pulled off a stunning upset of House Speaker Tom Foley 10 years ago — the first defeat of a sitting speaker since Honest Abe topped the GOP ticket. Despite Murray’s three-to-one fund-raising advantage, she’s in danger of choking on Nethercutt’s dust.
Of course, it takes a lot of chutzpah for Nethercutt to run on personal character. After all, he beat Foley on the term-limits issue only to play voters for chumps by breaking his central promise to serve no more than six years. In a long foot race, that type of Achilles heel can cost a strong starter the victory. But here’s the big question: When will Murray stop acting like she’s jogging through a warm-up heat?
The Salty’s soap opera
Two bidders tried to lease the city-owned Salty’s restaurant building on the Spokane River last month. The City Council rejected the highest bidder, a Cheesecake Café that promised downtown diners a fresh, moderately priced menu. Instead, the city took a lower return on the public’s investment from Bellevue-based seafood chain Anthony’s.
Thus a fine-dining seafood restaurant will open a few blocks from Milford’s Fish House. A local gem for more than two decades, Milford’s was featured last fall on a Food Network show called “The Best Of” that profiles the nation’s most excellent eateries.
The city honored the achievements of Milford’s owner Jerry Young by awarding a low-ball lease to a direct competitor on a premium-view spot. That’s enough to make any loyal taxpayer lose his lunch. So I called Young to let him vent, and maybe stir up public outrage on his behalf.
“I have absolutely no comment” was all he’d serve up for publication. But ask yourself how you’d feel in Young’s kitchen. If you answer gutted like a whitefish and more steamed than a salmon, consider yourself in the know. Milford’s got a sushi-raw deal here. If the city didn’t sign its death warrant with that Anthony’s lease, it might have set yet another new restaurant up for a fall.