Washington's major newspapers have weighed in with endorsements for the Nov. 7 election, with several citing the country's runaway spending and Iraq quagmire as top issues. The question is how much sway will they really have.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Tacoma News Tribune, Everett Herald, Vancouver Columbian and Tri-City Herald all backed Maria Cantwell for reelection to the U.S. Senate. The News Tribune cites her mastery of policy and unease at retail politics, saying she "bears a striking resemblance to the man she unseated: Slade Gorton."
The Seattle Times endorsed Republican challenger Mike McGavick, citing his cost-cutting experience at Safeco, where he turned around the company's finances by slashing the workforce, raising insurance rates and shedding businesses. The Bellingham Herald and Yakima Herald-Republic also backed McGavick, saying his pledge to cut spending gave him a slight edge over Cantwell. Each said they wished one of the candidates would have advocated a change of course in Iraq.
In Washington's other nationally watched race, the Seattle Times and the News Tribune backed Republican Dave Reichert for reelection to Congress from the 8th district. They cited challenger Darcy Burner's inexperience and party-line attacks on the Bush Administration -- instead of on Reichert -- for the decision. Only the P-I backed Burner, saying that she made a strong case to unseat Reichert for his votes on the minimum wage, tax cuts and torture.