I’ve really enjoyed the time I’ve spent with you Kossacks, and I want to thank you for your comments.
Democratic candidates – from Sen. Barack Obama to governors to state legislators – are fighting a two-front battle in this election. One is with our Republican opponents. The other is with 527s and special-interest PACs.
Each election year, we see more ads from these groups, generally negative attacks, and I have a feeling that 2008 is going to set records. It’s a safe bet that John McCain’s campaign, unable to compete with Sen. Barack Obama’s broad, grassroots support, will receive millions in support from 527 groups in this election.
In Washington state, my Republican opponent has already given the green light to his special interest friends. The Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) is the most powerful special interest lobby in Washington. Despite their benign name, the BIAW’s tactics and policies are anything but.
The BIAW’s values don’t match up with the voters of Washington. As you can see here, here, and here, local bloggers agree. The BIAW has opposed cleaning up toxics in the Puget Sound, opposed fighting global warming and even opposed protecting orca whales. My opponent voted with them 99% of the time while he was a State Senator.
This special interest lobby is my opponent’s biggest backer, and has already spent spent $500,000 on radio attack ads that distort my record, and challenge my integrity as a governor and a mother – and it’s only June.
My opponent wants to bring the tired, failed policies of the Bush Administration to our state, and he plans to use the tired, dirty politics of the Bush Administration to do it.
To help fight these attacks, we launched www.ChrisGregoire.com/FightTheAttacks to help grassroots and the netroots learn the truth about my record so they can spread the word.
Every state has a group like the BIAW, and citizen journalists, like you, play an important role in debunking their myths. I’m glad to have your support.