"Obama lands a key backer in Adam Smith"

Joel Connelly:

The "spring training" phase of the 2008 presidential campaign has produced a commitment by a key player. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., who put together John Kerry's campaign for this state in 2004, is backing Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

"At the top of the list, in my reasons why, is his ability to bring people together," Smith said. "In the last six to 15 years, the country has been more and more divided. I am impressed by his background and by the variety of his experiences. He also understands the new economy."

Smith will keynote a Seattle "Meetup for Obama" on April 28 at Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Smith has been a leader of the moderate New Democrat Coalition. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and is chairman of its anti-terrorism subcommittee.

In the last presidential cycle, Smith and top aide Ali Weise organized the Kerry campaign, held it together as support for rival Howard Dean surged and then soundly defeated Dean in Washington's presidential caucuses. Kerry claimed the Democratic presidential nomination on caucus night in Seattle.

Two top "Deaniacs," Rep. Jim McDermott and state Democratic Chairman Paul Berendt, were both outvoted by Kerry supporters in their own precincts.

Washington would appear, on the surface, to be Hillary Clinton territory in the 2008 race.

The New York senator has keynoted Sen. Patty Murray's "Golden Tennis Shoes" annual awards, and appeared often at big-ticket fundraisers for Murray and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. President Clinton came here in 2001, raising more than $300,000 to retire Cantwell's campaign debts and was back last year to fill her coffers.

Yet, the state's Democrats are fervent in their anti-war sentiment, and both Obama and former Sen. John Edwards have done grass-roots politics on forays here.

Three prominent Democrats -- Maryanne Tagney-Jones, Tom Campion and Whitney Williams -- have agreed to put on a big Hillary Clinton fundraiser, but the Clinton campaign has yet to schedule a date.

But solid support doesn't even extend to the sponsors' households. "Right now, we are a mixed marriage, me for Edwards and Tom for Hillary," said Sonya Campion. The Campions hosted a 2006 reception that raised $100,000 for Clinton's re-election campaign in New York.

The Clintons have a reputation for being able to hear a dollar bill fall on a shag carpet. But their unceasing, often regal fundraising has limited contact with "the folks."

By contrast, Obama went to Garfield High School for a rally early in 2006 and drew more than 3,000 people to Bellevue Community College in the fall. Edwards has spoken to such events as a pancake feed at the Boeing Machinists' hall.

(House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is going the Clinton route in a Seattle visit today. She is speaking to a $1,000-a-person Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser at the Washington Athletic Club.)

"I'm hoping to be as deeply involved in this (Obama) campaign as I was for Senator Kerry," Adam Smith said. One Smith aide has already taken leave to work for the Illinois senator in the Iowa presidential caucuses.

"We're looking at a bigger pool (of volunteers) in this one," he added. "My major focus will be to help Senator Obama organize in this state."

While Smith is going for total immersion, Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., is keeping his powder dry. Asked if he has a steed in the 2008 race, Inslee replied, "I think there's a lot of talent."

Spring training has seen surprises from a couple of the state's prominent politicians.

Jim McDermott backed ex-Sen. Bill Bradley for the 2000 Democratic nomination. He was part of a memorable finger-wagging argument when pro-Bradley congressmen tried to crash a Gore rally in New Hampshire.

Who is McDermott's preferred candidate for 2008? "My horse is Al Gore," he replied. "He was flat-footedly against the Iraq war from the beginning, advocates universal health insurance and was ahead of everybody on global warming. I think those issues are a winning platform."

And McDermott thinks Gore has grown since his not-always-on-key performance in 2000. "When you lose, you develop a new understanding of what you are about," said the three-time gubernatorial candidate.