McGavick campaign picks up Rossi endorsement

The AP reports former gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi has endorsed McGavick's candidacy for US Senate.

The surprise, if any, is why it took so long.

Educational wedge issue introduced in the Senate

KING5 reports "The Dream Act," a bill designed to allow children of illegal aliens to go to college, was recently introduced in the Senate. Says Cantwell, "I think that helps everybody, it helps them, it helps their families, it helps the local economy and it certainly helps businesses get more skilled individuals." Several conservative Republicans oppose it.

But this bill may not be a campaign issue in Washington, which took the matter into its own hands in 2003, and began enrolling undocumented students who've lived here at least three years.

Seems to me, as long as somebody can afford (or win a scholarship) to go to college, there is no reason to stop him/her. The problem, it seems, is when legal residents are deprived of an educational opportunity because their seat is taken by an illegal alien.

Cantwell widens lead

According to the latest Rasmussen poll Maria Cantwell now leads Mike McGavick by 15 points, up 6 points from a 10/27 poll.

Cantwell has been getting some favorable press for her "attack dog" response to the recent spike in gas prices, and her attempts to head off drilling in an Alaska Wildlife preserve.

In terms of name recognition, Cantwell now leads McGavick by 20 points, which of course suggests that McGavick has at least 5% support from people who do don't even know who he is. Go figure.

Possible showdown looms over oil tankers in Sound

Just when everybody thought the idea was dead for another 20 years or so, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens announced he has introduced a new bill to allow oil tankers in the Puget Sound.

Cantwell says she will fight it with everything she has. Let's see who has the leverage. Obviously, if she wins this one she is a virtual shoo-in for 2006.

Here's the extra credit question: Suppose Cantwell looses this fight with Stevens. Does that help or hurt her reelection chances?

NY AG joins Cantwells crusade against "gas gouging"

Never mind the evidence is skimpy, Cantwell's call for a gas-gouging probe has found the interest of New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who is running for governor in New York next year. Spitzer recently wrote a letter to congress in support of Cantwell's proposed bill that would give the FTC investigatory powers.

P-I says Cantwell perpetuates the EPA's misdeed

An op-ed in yesterday's P-I accuses Cantwell of putting the nation's inland waters at risk, by introducing a bill to eliminate an EPA requirement that ships treat their ballast before discharging it.

This seems odd given that Cantwell threatened a one-woman filibuster when the so-called Magnuson Amendment (which effectively bans oil supertankers from Puget Sound) was proposed for repeal.

So, does Cantwell care about the quality of the water in Puget Sound or not?

Another profile of McGavick & his campaign

This one appears in the Kitsap Sun.

The Seattle Times: Editorials & Opinion: Mike McGavick's worth a look

In the land of blue the red paper gives a boost to its likely favorite.

What Maria had to say to America

For a transcript, or an audio stream, of what Cantwell said in her radio address for the Democrats a while back, click here.

Alaska Senators Oppose Cantwell ANWR Drilling

So, Alaska's own Senators oppose Maria Cantwell's quixotic venture against oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve.

McGavick takes on Bush

According to The Stranger Mike McGavick is going run against federal spending instead of Cantwell.

If he does, it will be a breath of fresh air.

Cantwell still fighting plans to open ANWR to oil exploration

The National Association of Manufacturers is asking its members to write their Senators to block an attempt by Maria Cantwell to derail plans to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration. According to NAM Cantwell intends to invoke the so-called "Byrd Rule" during deliberations, which is often used to remove non-germane provisions from budget bills.

For some reason Cantwell didn't talk about these plans in her monthly "Weekly Update". In yesterday's installment she crowed about the Senate hearings on oil and gas prices, vowed to continue supporting funding clean-up operations at Hanford, promised to support Indian health care legislation and paused to remember the passing of Rosa Parks.

Hmmm. Why isn't an Alaska Senator doing this and what else isn't she telling her constituents?