McKenna: If Obama wins, Dino Rossi is toast

Washington State's Republican Attorney General, Rob McKenna, who is running for a second term this fall, told delegates at the Republican National Convention this morning that Dino Rossi would need a big McCain victory to beat Chris Gregoire:

McKenna predicted that the Democratic Party would be working incredibly hard this cycle to elect Obama, saying that "they have an inferiority complex because they've been losing," though he acknowledged that it is very rare for one party to hold the office of the presidency for more than eight consecutive years.

"It is just about turnout," he said, and brought up the Democrats fundraising advantage this time around. "We don't have that kind of budget. We have got to get out there and do it the way we have always done it, with a lot of hard work."

Finally McKenna talked about the coattail effects of the McCain-Palin ticket, and suggested it had a crucial relationship to gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi's chances.

"If he carries it, Dino wins," McKenna said of McCain, and urged the delegates to work hard to at least keep the presidential vote close. "If he fails to carry it by ten or twelve points, Dino doesn't win."

Um...wow.

There is no way John McCain is going to carry Washington State by "ten or twelve points". It ain't gonna happen. Now, maybe a McCain victory is within the realm of possibility, but it's still highly unlikely.

Washington is not viewed as a battleground state by most political observers and analysts. And for good reason - Barack Obama is pretty popular around here.

So what is McKenna doing by saying this? Trying to lower expectations? How does this statement help Dino Rossi, his campaign manager, Afton Swift, or the rest of "Team 133"? If you look at Rossi's advertising, and Gordon Smith's down in Oregon, it's clear that they're making a play for Obama voters. They know they need ticket-splitters to win their races.

And so will Dave Reichert....or Rob McKenna, for that matter.

If everyone who votes for Barack also votes for John Ladenburg, McKenna is probably out as Attorney General. Is he also praying for a big McCain spread so that he can stay in office? Or does he think he's got more appeal than Rossi because he's a better salesman and he has the advantage of incumbency?

McKenna's comments are fun to talk about, but Democrats should be focused on turning them into a reality. Let's do all we can to help elect Barack and our many fine candidates running in downballot races.