Over the last 26-plus years, I have been involved in political campaigns in two states, ranging from county commissioner to sheriff, governor and senator. I favor the right side. I particularly enjoy Senate races. They’re dirty. I’d like to know if you or your readership can see the same underhanded lefty mischief that I think I see shaping up in the current U.S. Senate race. Please try to follow and not dismiss me as a tin foil hat conspiracy nut. I sincerely believe that I know what I’m talking about.

Three-term Democrat Patty Murray is seeking re-election in a mid-term year in which her party is going to sustain significant losses. Her purported chief competitor, Dino Rossi, is, in my appraisal, becoming a perennial candidate. He lost his first bid for state senator, had enough organization to unseat the one-term incumbent on the second try, and ran his second two races against an opponent bearing a Middle Eastern name in the years immediately following the Twin Tower bombings. At that time, he gained a reputation for bipartisanship, nonpartisanship and reaching across the aisle. He ran for governor twice, losing both times due to possible political mischief and legal maneuvers. However, I have to say that Ms. Gregoire’s deportment and comportment as well as conviction to party principles were vastly superior in a debate situation. He seems unable to take a firm position on any issue. In his book, he stated among other things that when approached about running against Maria Cantwell, he declined to avoid uprooting his school-age children, etc. In the short time since that election cycle, the only change I see is that the real estate market has taken a dump.

Clint Didier is a serious third contender with the handicap of not having a Bellevue address. He’s a wheat/alfalfa farmer, excavation company owner, high school football coach and former professional football player from a small town just north of Pasco. He believes that he has the eastern two-thirds of the state sewn up, but unfortunately the political climate in the greater Donkeyville area west of the Cascades may cancel the eastside votes out again. I’ve met him twice; he can give a direct answer without modification or moderation and take a clear position. From a partisan perspective, I believe that he is more politically and ideologically reliable than Mr. Rossi.

I surmise that Ms. Murray is in elective jeopardy but has a secure pension and other opportunities as a lobbyist or in the current administration. If our Top Two primary election pits Murray against Rossi, Murray wins. If Didier and Rossi win the top two slots, Murray gets her pension and the moderate Mr. Rossi becomes the ad hoc Democrat and relies on name recognition west of the Cascades to skate into office.

I intend to vote for Didier in the primary election and urge you and your readers to do likewise. Hopefully, we can vote for him in the general election as well.

Edward D. Neil

Enumclaw