Washington state gains popularity for presidential hopefuls

With so many presidential hopefuls flocking to our state, Washington, lately, looks a lot like New Hampshire or Iowa. But why do we suddenly matter in the race for the White House?

“We are the last caucus before Super Tuesday […] and I think there’s a sense that could give them some momentum going into Super Tuesday,” says Kirby Wilbur, Chairman of the Washington State Republican Party.

Rick Santorum campaigned in Tacoma Monday, Ron Paul traveled to Vancouver Thursday and will appear in the Tri-Cities Friday, while Mitt Romney is scheduled to make a campaign stop in the Seattle area March 1.

It’s been a bruising primary season so far, but Wilbur insists it won’t damage GOP chances to take back the White House in November.

“I think that’s going to toughen them up for November because obviously the President is going to play tough. I think a long process where they have to face each other and test each other – I think is going to turn out a better candidate in the fall.”

Wilbur says while the media is covering the primary races closely, much of it is “inside baseball” and most voters don’t pay much attention until much later in the race.

He says there could be additional benefits for our state if the race remains up in the air, because the GOP hopefuls will likely make extra trips to Washington in hopes of capturing Washington’s 43 delegates, which Wilbur calls a “pretty significant chunk.”