Roundup: guv's race goes nasty, green

• Published May 27, 2008

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The weekend had a pair of interesting stories about the nasty-toned governor’s race — including a look at a couple of political operatives who are providing the background and atmosphere. The other is on the green credentials of the candidates.

Go here to see Seattle Times reporter Ralph Thomas’ story about the Democratic and Republican parties’ campaign hit men, who are lending a brass-knuckled hand to the campaigns of Gov. Chris Gregoire and Republican Dino Rossi.

Both Democrats’ spokesman Kelly Steele and GOP communications boss Patrick Bell are using technology and a highly aggressive approach to casting their party’s opponent as a villain.

The other story was this look by the P-I’s Chris McGann at Rossi’s effort to wrap himself in the green colors of the environmental movement.

Gregoire won the endorsement of the Washington Conservation Voters for her work on global warming and other top environmental issues. But Rossi touts his transportation plan that includes tax incentives for buying hybrid cars, and he has traded in his traditional SUV for a hybrid version that gets 27 miles per gallon.

For what it’s worth, we remember Gregoire drove a hybrid sedan as attorney general, and her campaign says she is swapping her gubernatorial Cadillac for a Chevy Tahoe hybrid that gets 21 mpg.

At least with Rossi driving a Ford and Gregoire in a Chevrolet, we won’t have to listen to Steele or Bell telling us which one is more supportive of American auto workers.