Lewis County Democrats endorse Heck

[Upton]

Lewis County Democrats have informally endorsed Denny Heck, an Olympia businessman, former Clark County legislator and the founder of public affairs channel TVW, as their choice to succeed U.S. Rep. Brian Baird in the 3rd Congressional District.

The county party is the first in Southwest Washington's 3rd District to pick a candidate after becoming the first last week to host a candidate forum. All five Democrats in the race took part in the event at Centralia College.

A total of 52 party and precinct committee officers voted. They chose Heck nearly 4-to-1 over his closest competitor, giving him 48.4 percent of the vote to 12.9 percent for state Sen. Craig Pridemore and 3.2 percent for state Rep. Deb Wallace. Another 35.5 percent said they were uncommitted to any candidate.

Candidates Cheryl Crist and Maria Rodriguez-Salazar received no votes in the polling.

County party chairman Bob Schroeter said most precinct officers preferred Heck "based on the fact that he seemed to know a lot more about Lewis County issues, he has been down here more regularly, and his message was more of a mainstream message about jobs and economic growth that resonated with Lewis County voters."

http://www.tdn.com/news/local/article_3ae215ba-11f8-11df-8ba7-001cc4c03286.html

[eridani]

1. 65% of voters in CD-3 favor public option

What is Heck's position here?

http://horsesass.org/wp-trackback.php?p=24836

When people blithely talk about how only a “moderate” can win down here in WA-03, I feel like pulling my hair out. But then I’m reminded that the machinations of politicians often mean little compared to what the public actually thinks.

From The Columbian’s newly revived political blog, concerning a poll commissioned by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and done by Research 2000:

In a follow-up question, voters were asked whether they would favor or oppose “the national government offering everyone the choice of buying into a government-administered health insurance plan — something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get — that would compete with private health insurance plans.” A whopping 66 percent favored the idea; 24 percent opposed it, and 10 percent were undecided.

Presumably, using today’s commonly accepted definitions of what constitutes a “moderate,” nobody in their right mind would campaign in favor of government involvement in health care, because the Tea People hate the gubmint. It’s a scary year, at least to the easily scared, and we should just cower behind the pants leg of any sugar daddy we can find. (Note: this strategy is properly known scientifically as “The Democratic Party Formula for Failure Before Howard Dean Came Along.)

The problem with pat conventional wisdom is that, er, it’s pat conventional wisdom, passed around the tribe until it either becomes a fait accompli or is proven to be wrong. Hopefully the sillly notion that one can even define “moderate” in a multi-faceted district like WA-03 dies a swift death

[quiller4]

2. Wallace withdrew and rumors are that Pridemore will withdraw soon, too. n/t