Report: GOP Polled for Reichert in Failed Recruiting Attempt

Report: GOP Polled for Reichert in Failed Recruiting Attempt

Seattle Times reports that WA GOP polled for Rep. Reichert — after Bryant had announced for gov

Today, the Seattle Times reported that the Washington Republican Party paid for polling for U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert while the congressman was exploring a bid for governor. 

The polling came at the end of July, two months after Seattle Port Commissioner Bill Bryant had announced his campaign for governor. National and state Republicans also were rejected by two other top recruits: state senators Andy Hill and Steve Litzow. In its full-court press to get Rep. Reichert into the race, the Republican Governors Association praised the congressman as “a strong candidate for governor and would offer the kind of leadership the state needs to get back on the right track.”

“This news makes it clear: Republicans are failing in their candidate recruitment efforts in Washington state,” said Jared Leopold, DGA Communications Director. “It’s game time, and Washington state Republicans are stuck with their 4th-string quarterback. Even Republicans realize that Bill Bryant isn’t the right choice for Washington governor.”

Reichert decided to skip governor’s race after poll

By Jim Brunner

Seattle Times

10/20/15 

Congressman Dave Reichert’s decision to sit out the 2016 governor’s race came after polling paid for this summer through the state Republican Party.

Reichert’s congressional campaign gave the state GOP $41,000 on July 30, according to his third-quarter filing with the Federal Election Commission.

 A day later, the state party paid $39,500 to Public Opinion Strategies, a Virginia firm that has regularly conducted polling for Reichert in the past.

Read the rest here.

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