9 more days

Here’s what at stake Nov. 4:

— A history-making presidential election coinciding with a financial upheaval unequaled since the 1929 stock market crash ushered in the Great Depression.

— A bitter, down-to-the-wire $30 million rematch for governor at a time when the state faces a yawning budget deficit and an uncertain economic future.

— Two high-stakes Clark County commissioner races that could determine the pace of development in rural parts of the county for decades to come.

— Several contested legislative races that will decide who represents Clark County in Olympia next year and beyond.

From the top of the ballot to the bottom, Clark County voters have a lot to mull over this year, starting with their own economic prospects in perilous times.

“The dominant issue is the extremely difficult and scary state of the national economy,” said Oregon State University political scientist Bill Lunch. “People are terrified about what is going to happen to their jobs, and if they are older, what is happening to their retirement accounts.”

That could work to Democrats’ advantage, he said, but voters will also have to make judgments up and down the ballot about who can best manage difficult economic times.

“Our generation is not better off than our parents’ generation,” said Joy Yourcenar of Vancouver, a former teacher who plans to vote for Barack Obama. “We don’t have savings.” Her own children can’t afford to attend college, she said. The working poor have been forgotten.

Jonathan Carter is focused on how future county growth policies will affect his 5-acre blueberry farm. “It’s something I want to give to my kids,” he said. “Do I want to deprive them if the land values are getting pushed? Do I want to keep my land options open?”

Carter’s friend Dave Schaaf, a pastor, quoted the 19th-century French historian Alexis de Tocqueville, who observed in his classic work, “Democracy in America”: “America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”

“My concern is, are we still good?” Schaaf said. “That has to do with caring for the poor and honoring people’s faith. I’ll vote for the candidates that I believe are upholding the views that keep this country good.”

Clark County voters appear to be taking time to study the issues and candidates. As of Friday morning, just 16.4 percent had returned their ballots. Secretary of State Sam Reed is predicting an 83 percent turnout statewide, Ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4.

The intensity of this election season has ramped up with the worsening economic news. The stock market’s on a roller coaster, home foreclosures are multiplying and some economists say a deep recession looms.

On the home front, TV broadcasts nonstop political ads, “robocalls” disrupt the dinner hour, colorful campaign fliers clog up the mailboxes.

But in just nine days, voters will get the last word.

The Clark County ballot is daunting. Voters are asked to weigh in on three initiatives, the presidential race, the 3rd congressional district race and nine contests for statewide office. They’ll also decide three state Senate races and eight House races in districts that cover all or part of Clark County.

National polls showed the presidential race between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama tightening after the third presidential debate. But a CBS News/New York Times poll released Thursday found Obama leading McCain even in key battleground states and by 51 percent to 38 percent nationwide, prompting one pollster to predict a Democratic landslide.

In the electoral college vote, the one that actually matters, Washington’s 11 electoral votes have been considered firmly in the Obama column for months. The candidate who wins the popular vote will win them all.

The McCain campaign pulled its money out of Washington weeks ago, disappointing some down-ballot Republicans, but the Obama campaign is taking nothing for granted.

The Vancouver MoveOn.org chapter issued the following alert for volunteers this weekend: “Have plans? Cancel them. Can’t cancel? Postpone . . . This is the, uh, FUTURE OF THE WORLD — and it could come down to 100 people in Vancouver.”

U.S. Rep. Baird, Democrat, faces libertarian-leaning Republican Michael Delavar in his quest for a sixth term representing Southwest Washington’s 3rd Congressional District.

The governor’s race between Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire and GOP challenger Dino Rossi remains too close to call, evidence that Gregoire has had trouble parlaying her four years in office into the usual incumbent’s advantage. But a new Elway poll, which uses a voter list and live interviews, shows Gregoire leading Rossi on six of 10 issues on which voters plan to base their decisions.

More than $30 million has poured into the race from campaign donors and independent organizations, fueling one of the most negative gubernatorial campaigns ever. Outside organizations have spent $9.2 million to defeat Gregoire and about $3.7 million to defeat Rossi.

Six of the state’s large daily newspapers have endorsed Gregoire; four, including the Seattle Times, have endorsed Rossi.

The biggest stakes locally are in the two county commissioner races. Voters will decide whether to give Republican County Commissioner Marc Boldt a second four-year term or replace him with Vancouver City Council member Jeanne Harris, a liberal Democrat. They’ll also decide whether Democrat Pam Brokaw or Republican Tom Mielke should succeed Betty Sue Morris, a champion of robust development.

The changing of the guard comes as the county faces shrinking revenues, due largely to a slump in home building, that have forced layoffs and a hiring freeze. The next three-member commission will decide how much development to permit in rural centers, how to deal with traffic congestion, and whether to expand the urban growth boundary.

Three statewide ballot initiatives deal with end-of-life choices, training for long-term care workers and traffic congestion.

Initiative 1000, by far the most bitterly contested, would make Washington the second state, after Oregon, to let terminally ill, competent adults request and self-administer lethal medication prescribed by a physician. The measure has drawn a flood of out-of-state-funding. Proponents have contributed nearly $4.8 million; opponents have raised $1.4 million, including a $10,000 in-kind contribution from actor Martin Sheen, who agreed to appear in a television ad urging a no vote.

Initiative 1029, sponsored by Service Employees International Union, would require long-term caregivers to get more training, undergo federal criminal background checks and obtain state certification. The union has spent nearly $1 million to win its passage; opponents have raised about $153,000.

Initiative 985, a traffic congestion measure sponsored by initiative king Tim Eyman, would open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all traffic during certain hours, require traffic light synchronization, increase roadside assistance funding and dedicate certain taxes, fines and tolls to reducing congestion. Most of its impact would be felt in the Puget Sound area. Eyman’s organization has raised about $643,000; opponents have raised $162,000.

Senate and both House seats in the 49th, 17th and 18th districts are on the ballots. In the 15th District, which covers a tiny chunk of southeast Clark County and all of the Columbia River Gorge, two popular Republican House incumbents face little-known challengers.

Incumbents in all four districts scored healthy margins in the August primary. In the 17th District, Democrat David Carrier has mounted a scrappy campaign against Republican incumbent Sen. Don Benton, and Republican Joseph James and Democrat Tim Probst are vying for an open seat.

In the 18th District, Republican Jaime Herrera faces a serious challenge from Democrat VaNessa Duplessie for the seat she was appointed to last year. Democrat Jim Jacks and Republican Debbie Peterson are vying for the 49th District seat that opened when Democratic Rep. Bill Fromhold decided not to seek another term in Olympia.

Whatever the outcome, it’s not expected to significantly change the math in Olympia, where Democrats hold a 32-17 majority in the Senate and a 62-36 majority in the House.

In addition to the governor’s race, eight other races for statewide office are on the ballot. The voters’ pamphlet has information on races for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, commissioner of public lands, superintendent of public instruction and insurance commissioner.

Kathie Durbin: 360-735-4523; kathie.durbin@columbian.com.