SPOKANE — With the election less than three weeks away, the first-of-its kind central Washington U.S. House race between two Republicans remains a hard fought intramural contest.
Dan Newhouse, from the establishment wing of the GOP, is battling Tea Party favorite Clint Didier to succeed retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings. The House seat covers Yakima, the Tri-Cities and much of the central portion of the state.
This is the first time in state history that two members of the same party advanced to the general election for a House seat, which is a result of Washington’s Top Two primary election system.
While external polling has been scarce, fundraising numbers show Newhouse with a decisive money advantage.
Newhouse has raised about $726,000, according to the most recent filings with the Federal Elections Commission; Didier has brought in more than $423,000. That amount includes a $30,000 loan Didier made to his campaign.
Newhouse, a former state legislator and director of the state Department of Agriculture, has picked up most of the establishment endorsements in the race. That includes nods from both Hastings and the influential National Rifle Association.
His father Irv was a powerful GOP legislator and his campaign has focused on mainstream GOP issues.
Didier, a former NFL player, has earned the endorsement of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and former presidential contender Rick Santorum. His campaign is long on references to God, guns and patriotism.
The Washington State Republican Party has declined to issue an endorsement.
Didier is a farmer from Eltopia, while Newhouse is a farmer from Sunnyside.
Didier led by 6 percentage points after the crowded primary, 31 percent to 25 percent, but Newhouse’s campaign contends their candidate has pulled ahead in internal polling. Didier’s campaign has not done any recent polling.
The campaigning has gotten rougher as the election draws near. In a recent television ad, Newhouse contended that he would protect Social Security and use common sense to balance the budget and cut government spending.
“Clint Didier has said on multiple occasions that he wants to phase out Social Security, and he’d eliminate the Medicare and VA health care relied on by seniors and veterans throughout central Washington,” said Newhouse campaign manager Tim Kovis.
“That’s not conservative. It’s extremist,” Kovis said.
Didier’s campaign shot back that the nation is morally obligated to pay the elderly what they have paid in to Social Security. As for the VA, campaign manager Larry Stickney said Didier wants to reduce administrative costs, while providing more money for the care of veterans.
“Nobody loves veterans more than Clint Didier,” Stickney said.
The Newhouse campaign also took a swipe at Didier receiving $291,000 in federal farm subsidies between 1995 and 2010.
“Clint often says he is against government programs, except those he is able to benefit from personally,” said Newhouse campaign manager Jim Keough. .
Stickney said Didier stopped taking federal subsidies after 2010. “He swore them off,” he said. “He’s been freer and more profitable ever since.”
Didier’s call for smaller government could place him at odds with boosters of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, the largest single employer in the district. Hanford receives some $2 billion a year in federal funds to clean up the nation’s largest collection of nuclear waste.
In a mid-October debate in Pasco, Didier said he did not want to cut Hanford spending but thought enough was being spent on cleanup. He said he would like to see more accountability to make sure the money is being spent wisely with maximum productivity.
Newhouse said the federal government has a commitment to clean up the waste left over from helping win the Cold War and World War II.
“I’ve talked to contractors, I’ve talked to union officials, I’ve talked to management, strides are being made,” Newhouse said at the debate.
The country needs to increase the size of the military to Reagan-era levels, Didier said at the debate. The U.S. should also be concerned about the United Nations because of the threat of a “one world” government taking away guns, Didier said.
Newhouse responded that it is important to work with other countries, but added that the UN has become a “liberal think tank.”
