Rossi says no to Senate bid

From the King County Journal:

Dino Rossi on Wednesday said he will not run for the U.S. Senate, citing his desire to have an impact on the political culture of Washington state and the impact that serving in the other Washington would have on his young family.

Rossi has said this previously. Besides the fact that a race for U.S. Senate would be entirely different than a gubernatorial race, Rossi has cited family concerns that are his primary reason for not running against Cantwell:

"I have four small children and I'm not sure how I'd make it work with the family without upheaval and difficulty for the kids. So, that really is not my focus," Rossi told the Journal during an interview at his campaign headquarters in downtown Bellevue.

"My focus is running for governor and being governor of the state of Washington and turning the state around. So I'm not running for the U.S. Senate. I'm running for governor."

Of course, as state GOPolitburo chair Chris Vance noted:

"There are people and organizations who will want to change his mind," Vance said. "The senate campaign committee will try to persuade him otherwise."

"I don't think this will be the start of serious campaigning for the U.S. Senate until the court situation in Wenatchee becomes clear."

It remains to be seen whether Rossi will change his mind - but it doesn't look like it. Cantwell's challenger is likely to be either Rick White (who ousted Cantwell as 1st District representative in 1994) or Michael McGavick, the current Safeco CEO.