Another Milestone for Dino Rossi

This should come as little surprise when one considers that back in May, Rossi's current contributor list surpassed his total number of donors from 2004 (30,745). Now, it numbers over 37,000 and counts two-thirds of those donors as new to the campaign, meaning they didn't give in 2004.

 

Yes, Christine Gregoire has likewise already surpassed her previous fundraising record from 2004, when she raised $6.36 million to his $6.25 million. Both sides are going to be loaded for bear given the local and national attention being given to this race.

 

As I've discussed, however, with readers of my home blog, many a major business community contributor who gave to Rossi in 2004, or split their contributions to both sides given the open nature of that race, are now either giving either solely to Gregoire or not at all. Rossi's current success on the fundraising trail is heavily reliant on a grassroots level of support hitherto unseen in Evergreen State gubernatorial politics.

 

Indeed, this is an atypical but welcome trend in this otherwise difficult election year for Republicans, with enthusiasm within the conservative base generally at a low ebb.  In Washington state, however, the contrasting vigor with which the grassroots faithful is supporting Rossi is palpable.  GOP gatherings and events are infectious with a fervent commitment to aid Dino's cause.

 

It probably has something to do with the natural human reaction to the dismayingly close outcome of 2004.  Many Republicans recognize they could have done more to help a candidate whose late breaking success surprised many that year.  Thus, the extra contribution is being sent, several more hours of doorbelling or phone banking is embraced, and a few more yard signs are pounded into the ground; it all adds up.

 

In the aggregate, it's obviously having an effect if Rossi's fundraising is any indicator.