Governor's race still undecided in Washington

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Both of Washington's potential new governors have experienced the uncomfortable sensation of reading their own political obituaries.

Republican Dino Rossi was his party's fourth choice a year ago when he announced his run against a popular Democrat who seemed like the anointed successor to outgoing Gov. Gary Locke.

And the Democrat, Christine Gregoire, has seen members of her own party struggling to explain her fall from front-runner to underdog.

Their race was still undecided Saturday as a recount got under way. When all the state's counties reported their tallies last Wednesday, Rossi had only 261 more votes than Gregoire out of some 2.8 million ballots. State law requires a machine recount when the margin is less than 2,000 votes.

The process should be done by this coming Wednesday, but the uncertainty could stretch into December if the candidates or parties demand a hand recount.

Even if Rossi loses, his performance in what's essentially a Democratic-leaning state gives him excellent statewide name recognition for a potential 2006 challenge of Democratic U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell.

Even if Gregoire wins, she has missed the high expectations set for her. She was the front-runner almost from the moment she announced her candidacy. She got a head start in fund-raising and enjoyed support from national women's political groups.

But being front-runner means the folks behind you have a clear shot.

"You get the arrows in your back," Gregoire's longtime administrator, Fred Olson, said last summer, when Democratic rivals attacked.

Rossi announced his candidacy a year ago, after the GOP leadership failed to recruit several high-profile Republicans. The two-term state senator wasn't well-known outside his suburban Seattle district, but the party closed ranks around him.

Gregoire and Rossi spent about $6 million apiece on their campaigns, a state record, and outside groups spent millions more.

Rossi stuck to the message he sent when he declared his candidacy: "Democrats have had 20 years, and we're broke and out of work. It's time to turn the economy around and put people back to work."

Gregoire also tried to wear the mantle of outsider, but she has 20 years experience in state government and has been elected statewide three times as attorney general.

Leaders of both parties have strongly hinted they will ask for a hand recount if things don't go their way.

Secretary of State Sam Reed even brought up the possibility of a tie. In that case, state law says the winner will be determined "by lot." Reed said he would work with both campaigns to decide on a suitable method.

Flipping coins? Drawing straws? Rock, paper, scissors?

"It is very, very unlikely," Reed said. "But possible."