Senator Patty Murray, something of an institution around Washington State since her election to the Senate in 1992, has picked up a Republican challenger in former NFL tight-end Clint Didier. Thus far, only an exploratory committee has been formed, but a declaration seems imminent based on the rhetoric on his website, linked above.
So far as I can tell, Mr. Didier deviates from the classic Republican candidate not at all. His talking points seem like they could be taken directly from the RNC website; government over-reach, cleaning house (always a goodie when challenging for a seat that has been held for 15 years), RONALD REAGAN, national security, etc.
Mr. Didier does not seem like he should provide much of a challenge, his name recognition from his NFL career is mainly in the east having played in DC and Green Bay. He has taken no stances that would separate him from the classic Republican candidates whom Sen. Murray has beaten previously (see 2004 - George Nethercutt). This election looks, at least initially, like it would play out in much the same way: Eastern WA tilting red, but not enough to counteract the extreme blueness of the I-5 corridor in Western WA.
We saw this same principle play out in the recent election earlier this month when Referendum 71 was passed, vastly expanding the rights of gay couples. Carrying only 10 of the state's 39 counties, Referendum 71 was passed by a 6-point margin, with the Puget Sound region going almost entirely in the "Approve" column. In the 2004 Senate election, Sen. Murray carried a 12-point margin state-wide in defeating George Nethercutt with the state dividing along the east-west border of the Cascade Mountains. In that election, Sen. Murray carried a larger majority in the western population centers, making it all but impossible for the redder, but sparsely populated, Eastern Washington counties to make up the difference.
My read of the situation, admittedly from the Western side in Seattle, is that the same thing will happen in 2010 as happened in the 2004 election. Sen. Murray will carry heavy majorities in the west which will counter the Republican majorities in the east.
So far, I haven't seen any information regarding political backing for Mr. Didier's impending run, but the way he is parroting Republican talking points, I would expect the RNC to back him as soon as an official announcement is made. He certainly is positioning himself to be a perfect cookie-cutter candidate, sure to follow his owners wherever they may go.