Al Gore comes to Inslee’s aid as governor launches preemptive campaign strike

It’s nearly two years before the next gubernatorial election, but Washington Governor Jay Inslee is already pulling out the big guns to raise funds and send a warning shot at potential GOP challengers.

Former Vice President Al Gore is in town Thursday for a fundraising luncheon at Seattle’s Westin Hotel, on the heels of a new email appeal making clear the race for 2016 is already well underway.

“I need your help to show that I still have your support and to make Republicans think twice about running against me when they see this month’s fundraising report,” Inslee said in the email that went out last Friday.

Inslee is clearly feeling a little heat following the disastrous results for Democrats in the November elections that saw the GOP strengthen its hold on the state Senate and gain seats in the House.

Some would argue, despite those results, Inslee has little to fear given Democrat’s control of the governor’s office since 1984. But Republican commentator and KIRO Radio/KTTH contributor Chris Widener says there’s a feeling on the right that the tide could be turning.

“I know a lot of people think if Rob McKenna couldn’t win, nobody can win. But Washington state is the only state in the country that has picked up House and Senate seats four straight elections now. That’s got a lot of people thinking maybe the winds are changing,” says the former candidate for U.S. Senate, who ran against Patty Murray in 2010.

Who is likely to challenge Inslee? The popular choice is Congressman and former King County Sheriff Dave Reichert.

“I know there are a lot of people trying to talk Reichert into doing it,” Widener says of behind-the-scenes efforts to convince him to take the plunge.

The timing could be right. Widener says Reichert has hinted at a desire to run, and with a military, King County and Congressional pension in his back pocket, he can take a shot at Olympia with little risk.

“He’ll probably make more in retirement in a single year than in any job he’s ever had. So, an-up-and-out move is not a bad move for him. He can either be governor or go spend time with his grandkids.”

Widener speculates Inslee’s early appeal could be an effort to scare off Reichert and make the Congressman go after Murray’s Senate seat instead.

“At the very least, (Inslee has) got to be thinking about how he can convince Reichert he’d have an easier time running against Patty, given what’s gone on in Congress,” says Widener.

Inslee’s appeal makes clear he wants to send a strong message to any GOP challenger.

“Help me show the opposition that we have the resources to keep fighting for Washington: Make your $5 contribution now,” he wrote.

Beyond Reichert, Widener admits the GOP has virtually no candidate with statewide name recognition and appeal. But he points out the same could be said when Dino Rossi rose from relative obscurity to nearly unseat Christine Gregoire before losing on a hotly contested recount by just 129 votes.

“Nobody knew who Dino Rossi was when he ran. Dino started out with 13 percent name recognition factor. I can remember the days when he first started getting out there and not everybody in the room knew who he was,” says Widener.

Who could be the next GOP upstart? Widener says one candidate nearly certain to throw his hat in the ring is longtime Port of Seattle commissioner Bill Bryant.

Widener says Bryant made it well known he wanted to run in 2012, but was ultimately talked out of it because the party threw all its backing behind McKenna.

“He’s ambitious. He’s a wildly successful businessman. He’s moderate on the right issues and conservative on the right issues.”

It’s obviously way too early to seriously handicap the race, but one thing is certain: Inslee backers can expect plenty of pleas for money in the coming months.