McKenna to supporters: 'get ready for good news'

Brad Shannon

Rob McKenna just talked to Republican supporters in Bellevue tonight, thanking volunteers who made more than 1.5 million campaign phone calls in support of his gubernatorial campaign. He also said he'll be back after 9:30 when he's had a chance to review election returns, which start to be counted after 8 p.m. "Celebrate and get ready for some good news later tonight,'' he said.

Several hundred are packed into the Hyatt Regency's Evergreen Ballroom, watching the results in the presidential race come in in see-saw fashion from around the country. I see a few people with miniature American flags tucked into pockets.

McKenna said his campaign had 16 "victory centers" staffed by volunteers from around the state. He complimented the slate of Republicans running for other state executive offices, saying that former three-term governor Dan Evans had nothing but praise for the GOP ticket this year.

"Dan Evans said this is the strongest slate of Republican candidates he's seen in a generation, and I think he's right," McKenna said.

Michael Baumgartner, the Republican running a longshot campaign for U.S. Senate, also spoke, saying he sees victory in the crowd. 

And Tim Eyman read his statement about voter support for Initiative 1185, his latest version of a measure requiring a two-thirds supermajority vote to raise taxes in the Legislature. He said voters have showed over 20 years they support the idea.