SEATTLE -- When is a lie not a lie?

How about when it's turned into a political campaign ad.

And so I would like to invite none other than Dino Rossi, who is either the Republican candidate or the GOP candidate for governor, to come on down.

Yes, he is Dino Rossi and he's pleased as punch with the ad that chastises incumbent Christine Gregoire for ignoring the state's $3.2 billion budget shortfall.

The only problem is, the state doesn't have a budget shortfall.

At least not yet.

Now next July, the state will likely find itself in a $3.2 billion hole, but the current budget - which runs through the end of next June - is about as balanced as a well trained Republican.

A picky detail that Dino conveniently ignored when crafting the ad, which was simply a way to make the governor look really, really bad while at the same time making himself look really, really good.

So what if it's not exactly, precisely true and/or accurate?

Anyway, for seeking high political office by taking the low campaign road, take a bow because you, Dino Rossi, approved that misleading message and therefore this "Schrammie" is for you.

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