OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - The state Democratic Party is suing to get a Republican on the ballot.
In the latest twist of a bruising governor's race, Democrats sued Secretary of State Sam Reed on Tuesday, saying challenger Dino Rossi should be listed as a Republican instead of "prefers GOP party" on the November ballot.
more hiding from Bush below
State Dems sue over GOP moniker in gov race
This is The Great Northwest, not the good ole boy south, haven't had to listen to the pompuss GRAND OLD PARTY BS.
Many here don't know Republicans GOP, so this is just another sleazy attempt to mislead voters.
This is being done by almost all repubs on the ballot.
The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court in Seattle, argues that "allowing Mr. Rossi to obscure his true party preference and affiliation directly violates the law, would mislead a substantial portion of the voting public and would breed cynicism and mistrust in our public institutions and, indeed, in our electoral process."
The party is seeking an emergency temporary restraining order that would prevent ballot printing until the court makes a decision. A hearing on the request is scheduled Wednesday, Democratic spokesman Kelly Steele said.
Local polling has shown some voter confusion about the Republican nickname GOP, an abbreviation for Grand Old Party. Most recently, a survey by independent pollster Stuart Elway found Gregoire had a 10-point advantage over a "Republican" Rossi but a 4-point advantage when Rossi was listed as "prefers GOP party."
Rossi filed as "prefers GOP party" in June, but state Democrats said they decided to file the lawsuit this week because of recent polls indicating the wording could have an impact on Election Day.
"It's clear that Republican Dino Rossi's deception and extraordinary efforts to hide his party affiliation could have an impact," Steele said.