SEATTLE – Dino Rossi's entrance into the race for U.S. Senate against Patty Murray has caused one candidate to drop out.
Dr. Art Coday announced in a press release Friday he would be throwing his support behind Rossi, a Republican, in the campaign to unseat Murray, a Democrat.
"… my primary goal has always been the defeat of three-term incumbent Senator Patty Murray," said Coday. "It is clear to me that Dino Rossi has the best chance to defeat Senator Murray, so I am suspending my campaign and enthusiastically endorsing Dino Rossi for U.S. Senate."
Rossi, a former state senator and two-time runner up for Washington Governor, announced his candidacy Wednesday. He had been strongly recruited by the Republican Party.
Recent polls show the campaign is a virtual dead heat. A new Rasmussen poll shows that Murray leads Rossi, 48 percent to 47 percent.
The other remaining Republicans in the race are state Senator Don Benton; businessman Paul Akers; chiropractor Sean Salazar; and former NFL player Clint Didier.
As for Coday, he says he now plans to run for the open State Representative position in Washington's 32nd District.
