In Washington’s “Top Two” primary system - where the top two finishers, regardless of party affiliation, advance to November - Tebelius garnered 46 percent of the vote against an eight-year incumbent despite being in the race fewer than 90 days. “We knew we had to play catch-up and set an aggressive goal to reach out to voters door-to-door,” said Tebelius. “In only two months, I visited over 8,500 homes with the message of reform and greater government accountability with our tax money. Voters are responding with great enthusiasm.”
When Seattle Times editorial columnist Joni Balter was given the opportunity to accompany Tebelius on the campaign trail, she witnessed, first hand, how Tebelius’s conservative message was well-received by constituents, particularly independents voters. “At many doors in the Clyde Hill area, Tebelius prompted bobbing heads and ‘you've got my vote’ when she offered her stock pitch that Olympia has a spending problem, not a revenue problem,” pens Balter.
With less than two months to go until Election Day, Tebelius benefits from a constituency that is fed up with higher taxes and the burdens of big government. This year, 48th District voters are presented with two clear choices: a newcomer with leadership experience who staunchly advocates the merits of free enterprise and government accountability or a member of Washington’s liberal political machine, who has a demonstrated a recent propensity to flip-flop on tax hikes. According to Tebelius, voters don’t want a candidate like Hunter who has “voted 98 percent of the time with the Seattle power brokers,” they “want to trust their representative and know that they will keep their word.”
For more information on Republican Diane Tebelius’ bid in Washington visit: http://www.diane2010.com/