Washington Test for Sen. Patty Murray: From 'Mom in Tennis Shoes' to D.C. Power Broker

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2010 — -- Democratic Sen. Patty Murray will face Republican Dino Rossi in the Washington state Senate race in November. The two emerged as winners of an open primary Tuesday in Washington -- the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, would advance to the general election.

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The final vote totals will not be known for some time, but with more than 50 percent of the precincts reporting, Murray had a commanding 46 to 34 percent lead over Rossi. Those numbers don't tell the whole story, however. Former NFL Redskin Clint Didier has 11 percent of the vote and other Republicans have less than 5 percent each. Add all the Republican votes and put them up against Murray for Democrats, the sides are tied. Republicans in blue Washington might even have the edge when the final tally is in.

The tight primary totals could foreshadow problems for Murray in November.

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Republicans were crowing about the results.

"The fact that an 18-year incumbent from a blue state who serves as a member of Senate leadership is struggling to get above 50 percent in an open primary speaks volumes about the current political environment in Washington State, and it speaks volumes about the opportunity that Republicans have this November with Dino Rossi as our party's nominee for the U.S. Senate," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in a memo published early Wednesday morning.

The vote totals for all Republican candidates are perhaps an imperfect indicator for the fall. Didier, for instance, has 11 percent of the vote and should be counted as a Republican. But he is more anti-war than Murray these days. She was among the Senators who voted against the war in Iraq, but has consistently voted in favor of war funding under President Obama.

It has been a long political journey for Patty Murray, first elected to the Senate in 1992.

Long before there were Mama Grizzlies, Murray was "just a mom in tennis shoes."