The Seattle Times published an post recount analysis in this morning's edition. Included is a reference to DailyKos and poster
SwimmertoFreedom04. Looks like some of the discussions we have been having are hitting print media.
But it was Gregoire's name on the ballot, and as Berendt rallied the troops, liberals -- still somewhat reluctantly -- came to Gregoire's aid.
"Well it sure is refreshing at least to have a Democrat fight," said a comment posted by "SwimmertoFreedom04" on DailyKos, a widely read liberal Web log. "It is inspiring despite my misgivings about her. If she goes on to win, which is certainly looking better, I hope that the rest of the party takes note."
Kos keeps growing. More of the anaylsis below the fold...
If Christine Gregoire can hold off a potential Republican legal challenge and take her oath as governor Jan. 12, liberal Democrats will be awaiting her thanks and expecting even more.
The unprecedented statewide hand recount of the governor's race was paid for in part by donations from the left wing of the Democratic Party, attracted to Gregoire only in near-defeat. They saw her drawn-out struggle with Republican Dino Rossi as a surrogate for the battles they had hoped to wage on behalf of first Al Gore, then John Kerry, in their close races with George W. Bush.
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"Gregoire should not expect a honeymoon. And if she's smart she'll be consulting with, not alienating, those who defended her right to be governor," said Bill Moyer, founder of the Backbone Campaign, a liberal group based here that has been pushing the state and national Democratic Party to the left.
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Democrats raised $730,000 to pay as a deposit for the hand recount. Although the state will return that check because the recount showed Gregoire the winner, the count would not have taken place without the party's down payment.
The MoveOn Political Action Committee, connected to the liberal activist group MoveOn.org, donated $250,000. Liberal talk-radio host Ed Schultz asked his listeners to telephone the Democrats and donate, raising about $30,000.
The Democratic National Committee and Kerry each donated $250,000.
Former presidential candidate Howard Dean sent an e-mail asking his supporters to donate through the state party's Web site. At least $200,000 was raised, though party officials say they can't say how much of that was due to Dean's solicitation.
"She stood and fought, and has been rewarded by progressives who were willing to help raise money," said Ray Minchew [another DailyKos regular], executive director of Democracy for Washington. The group is a local offshoot of Dean's Democracy for America.
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Gregoire helped solicit money on behalf of the party, but frequently said it was the party, and not her, that was raising the money and going to court to try to get counties to reconsider previously rejected ballots.
The three-term attorney general said she wasn't consulted about the litigation and her name did not appear as a plaintiff. She said she was only a "very interested third party." The fighting words came not from Gregoire, but from Berendt and his sharp-tongued spokeswoman, Kirstin Brost.
I'm not going to add much to the commentary because it stands on its own merits. I will add one thing: I think Berendt has done himself well in laying the groundwork for the upcoming Washington State Dem Party chair election. His efforts to protect the state's Dem voters and gubernatorial candidate will not go unnoticed.