Seattle mayoral candidates take attacks online
Now some observers are asking whether the Internet-based attack ads are a sign of things to come, or simply a fluke in an all-mail election with unusual timing.
To say Tuesday's August primary is different, is an understatement.
- It's the first time we've had an all mail-in ballot for every race statewide.
- Voting started a month ago, and a majority of voters who plan to vote may already have done so, which means there are few people left to persuade.
- The mail-in turnout is expected to be low - with the election taking place in the middle of summer when many people are on vacation - and campaign coffers are not high.
So in the Seattle mayoral race, the attacks ads have gone online - where posting them is free.
Incumbent Mayor Greg Nickels got it rolling this week with an ad against one of his closest challengers - Joe Mallahan.
The ad says, in part: "Poor Joe, there's so much he doesn't know. ... But there's something we do. Joe don't know Jack."
At a minute and a half in length, this ad would prove costly to run on TV and radio. But on the Internet, it's free.
Now Mallahan has fired back at Nickels - also online.
"How desperate is Greg Nickels?" the ad asks.
"Why would Greg Nickels stoop so low?" the ad continues, and then runs a recording of Nickels saying, "I've made my share of mistakes, made my share of mistakes, of mistakes, of mistakes, mistakes, mistakes, mistakes, mistakes."
In the race for King County executive, one online ad says, "Our future's so bright we've got to wear shades."
But these ads are tame by comparison with the ones in the mayoral race. A recent poll shows former news anchor Susan Hutchison leads in the race for King County Executive over Dow Constantine.
And then there is Seattle's plastic bag tax.
A poll last week by the University of Washington showed 55 percent of the 600 people surveyed opposed the 20-cent tax on each plastic bag you get at the market.
Anyone who still plans to vote should keep in mind that they can save a stamp by dropping off their ballot at ballot drop boxes set up throughout all counties.
But ballots have to be turned in before 8 p.m. on Tuesday or they won't be counted.
KOMO News has spoken with three of the campaigns, and they all said this election is one of the harder ones to predict because all of these unique circumstances.