WA-08: Darcy Burner Still Not Running on Pocketbook Issues

Perhaps it should come as little surprise that a candidate who is a darling of the netroots is running a campaign that puts little emphasis on the economic issues that are dominating the headlines and top the concerns of voters this year. Yet, that's exactly what Democrat Darcy Burner is doing in her re-match against Republican Congressman Dave Recihert, in a race that regularly lands on assorted "House Races to Watch" lists (latest example from the Fix).

Behold, Burner's latest ad:

This amounts to getting into a resume contest with Reichert, he of King County Sheriff and Green River Killer fame (official bio here). Sure, the Reichert campaign can easily compile a list of accomplishments to counter the ad itself, but resume wars were a loser for Burner in 2006. Recall the ad that sent the left into a tizzy for its supposed sexism: 

For now the oddity remains that Burner, having already lost in a lean-Democrat district in the best Democratic year in recent memory, isn't spending much time talking about the most important issues to voters. The Politico noted she's but one of several Democratic Congressional candidates who have been caught with their pants down on this topic:

Elsewhere, Cook Political Report House analyst David Wasserman said that the rapid ascent of energy as the leading issue across the country has caught off-guard some leading Democratic candidates who began their campaigns running on anti-war platforms. He cited the campaigns of Darcy Burner, running against Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.), and Jim Himes, running against Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), as examples.

While Burner has been shying away from such issues, Reichert has had them front and center, including via some innovate, web-only ads featuring his campaign themes on the economy and energy.

The separation between the candidates is even all the more relevant given that in 2006, Burner ran strongest in affluent - and anti-war - communities such as Bellevue along Lake Washington in Seattle's suburbs (district map here). She faded, however, in less prosperous locales to the east and south. Given the economic angst being felt in many exurbs and small towns, one would think Burner would want to speak more to the issues that matter to those voters she lost in 2006.

While she's talking little about core pocketbook issues troubling voters, she's also neglecting top tier economic issues in the Seattle area too. Washington is the most trade dependent state in the nation. Yet, Burner refuses to commit to supporting trade deals with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea that Reichert supports. That topic may prove a weakness in the editorial board endorsement process where Reichert bruised Burner in 2006, with both the Seattle Times and Tacoma News Tribune chiding the credentials of her challenge to Reichert.

For now, Reichert's race symbolizes a test for many GOP Representatives. With the NRCC weakened and with Democratic spending vigorous, individual candidates will have to prove their worth, especially in swing districts. Odd campaigning by their opponents won't hurt.

Cross-posted at Sound Politics.