The GOPs Lean Slate

Chris Vance is running out of time. The chair of the Washington State Republican Party has an ambitious work planthe transformation of the state GOP into, as he puts it, "a Northwest version of George W. Bush." Vance knows how to get it done: attract candidates for the 2004 U.S. Senate race and governor's contest who are "conservative enough to unite our base" yet at the same time "able to reach out to suburban voters, especially suburban women." It goes without saying that these same candidates need to be able to raise at least $10 million for the Senate race against powerful incumbent Democratic Sen. Patty Murray and a minimum of $4 million against another popular Democrat in the gubernatorial matchup, probably Gov. Gary Locke. He also wants no more than one candidate in each race. In the past, the GOP has been famous for primaries so bruising that its standard-bearer limps into the general election. Vance wants these candidates in place by July. His biggest problem is that his list keeps getting shorter. With just a couple of months to go before his self-imposed deadline, can Vance pull it off?

"The Washington State Republican Party is in transition," admits the frank, voluble Vance. He is trying to distance the party from the image created in the 1990s, when Christian conservatives reigned supreme in the state GOP. In particular, the candidacies of religious rightists Ellen Craswell for governor in 1996 and Linda Smith for the Senate in 1998 left the impression that the Republicans were too extreme to win statewide. "What won't sell is harsh, in-your-face conservatism," says Vance. Yet, "It's not as simple as moving the party to the center. If I was trying to drive the pro-lifers out of the party, that would be divisive. Our [party] slogan is 'Working for All of Us.'" There is hunger among Republicans, who have been frozen out of major offices: There hasn't been a Republican governor since 1985; Murray's seat has been held by Democrats since 1987; and former Republican Sen. Slade Gorton was defeated in 2000 by Democrat Maria Cantwell. All this, Vance says, helps Republicans put aside their differences to focus on victory.

Vance believes Democrats are vulnerable for a number of reasons. First, there's the "George Bush juggernaut. . . . The political atmosphere is favoring the Republicans right now." Second, the state of the state is poorhigh unemployment, transportation problems, a crisis in K-12 schools and higher education, and a terrible budget deficit. Vance characterizes Murray as "a political accident" who is out of her league as the state's senior senator. Locke's "act has worn thin." Since the recession began, the public has recognized Locke as the "ineffectual governor" that he is, Vance declares.

Paul Berendt, chair of the Washington State Democrats, gives a quick summation of Vance's analysis. "It's b.s.," he quips. "Sometimes you just have to wish your way into viability." Berendt believes the White House has written off Washington, where the Bush family has lost three times. He says Murray is the "most popular official in the state," and Locke's moderate and measured approach is "governing the way people want." Most tellingly, Berendt points out, Vance doesn't have any candidates stepping forward to challenge the Democrats. "They have had a real tough time finding credible candidates," he notes.

"My urgency increases every week," admits Vance. Things look brightest in the governor's race. King County Sheriff Dave Reichert is out working the state, and Western Wireless chairman and CEO John Stanton is on everyone's radar.

EVERY REPUBLICAN activist who has watched Reichert, 52, interact with audiences drools over his charisma. He is movie-star handsome and has a heroic life story that he tells with humilityfrom his early days as a beat cop successfully disarming crazed criminals to his relentless pursuit of the Green River killer, who he believes is now in custody.

There are a couple of big questions about him, however. First, is he a Republican? And second, is he cut out to be a politician?

His answer to both questions shows why he will be a formidable candidate if he chooses to run. Reichert confirms that if he seeks higher office, it will be as a Republican. But he never says, "I am a Republican." Instead, he says with great sincerity, "I've never seen myself as a Republican or a Democrat. Nothing is a Democratic or a Republican problem."

He also says, "I am not a politician. I don't play the game. I say what I think. The world of a cop is a world of right and wrong. People don't trust their government officials. I can change that. I like to take risks, and I like to make decisions."

The GOP couldn't ask for better opening themes delivered by a better candidate. Talking with Reichert, one comes away with the sense that he is ready to run but is determined to avoid a contested primary. It seems like the only thing holding him back is a decision from Western Wireless' Stanton.

Reichert follows Vance's message carefully in the electioneering arena. Reichert says he will decide by July, he has met with Stanton, and he gives the strong impression that the two will strike a gentleman's agreement not to run against one another.