As Camden reported several weeks ago, the GOP—once dominant in Seattle's Eastside burbs (the Crescent), but displaced there in the last 10 years by Democratic state Reps and Senators—is focusing on winning the swing turf back this season.

(We highlighted the fight in the 48th District—Bellevue—earlier this week where corporate investor and consultant Gregg Bennett is taking on incumbent Democrat Rodney Tom.)

There are several other races in this hot turf and to get a take on how serious the GOP is, check out the fundraising numbers that just came in yesterday.



First, on the Bennett vs. Tom race. Bennett has raised $228,000 to Tom's $61,000. (However, footnote: Bennett has spent $168,000. But footnote #2: That still puts him $11,000 ahead of Tom, who has about $49,000 on hand.)

In the 41st (Mercer Island, New Castle, Issaquah, Renton) where liberal Democratic incumbent Randy Gordon is facing off against moderate NARAL-endorsed Stephen Litzow, it's basically a dead heat in fundraising (which is actually good news for Gordon, who was previously far behind, but boasted to us that his funding was picking up. Litzow has raised slightly more overall, $44,000 to Gordon's $42,000, but looking at cash on hand—Gordon is ahead by about $10,000—$31,000 to $22,0000.

In the other hot race in the 41st, the Republican challenger, Peter Dunbar, has outraised incumbent Rep. Marcie Maxwell—$53,000 to $54,000, but is far behind in cash on hand, drooping down to about $20,000 to Maxwell's $38,000.

Oddly, in the 47th District—Southeast King County—where the Republicans should be threatening the most, they're not showing it. Outspoken progressive Democrat, firefighter Rep. Geoff Simpson is far ahead of his two rivals with about $30,000 on hand.  And State Sen. Claudia Kauffman is comfortably ahead of her Republican rival Joseph Fain with $40,000 on hand to Fain's $15,000.

In the 45th District—Woodinville, Duvall, Carnation, Kirkland—incumbent Democratic Sen. Eric Oemig is losing the money race to GOP challenger Andrew Hill. Oemig, who's raised $52,000, is down to about $43,000 on hand while Hill, who's raised $74,000 is at $55,000 on hand.

The 45th's liberal Democratic Rep. Roger Goodman and conservative Democratic Rep. Larry Springer look safe, moneywise.

In the one Democratic challenge in the Cresecent—the 5th Legislative District (North Bend, Snoqualmie, Issaquah)—where Democrat Dean Willard is trying to take out incumbent Republican Rep. Glenn Anderson, Willard is well ahead with $22,000 on hand to Anderson's $6,000.