"State Senator Rodney Tom withdrawing from Congressional race"

Email from Rodney Tom's PR advisor John Wyble @Moxie Media:

Bellevue - State Senator Rodney Tom, D-48th District, announced
today he is withdrawing from the 8th District Congressional race.
"Our fundraising was going great, but Darcy Burner's campaign has been
phenomenal", Tom said. "Darcy has over 3,200 contributors, an
incredible statement to her broad base of support. Reichert's idea
of campaign finance reform is having $10,000 dinners. Democracy was
never intended to be limited strictly to millionaires. Clearly, he's out
of touch with the common voter."

"My purpose from the start was to replace the current Congressman with someone who actually represents the values of the 8th district. Dave Reichert is completely out of step with the values shared in this district. Darcy Burner's campaign has proven they have the leadership, strength and momentum to win next November."

Tom plans to refund 100% of the contributions made to his campaign. "I'm just so appreciative of their incredible support. I'm a firm believer in both business and politics that you should always
leave whomever you come in contact with better off then before they dealt with you." He will personally pay for all the campaign expenses incurred
to date so that his contributors will receive a full and complete refund. "I've always believed in being frugal, both in government and in campaigns. People expect and deserve a lot of bang for their buck,"
said Tom. "The bottom line is we must now unite behind Darcy and bring real leadership and representation to this district."

Tom plans to continue his focus in the State Senate on improving
education. "I'm ending this campaign, but I will never stop fighting
to make education our top priority both at the state and national level.
We have to take education to a much higher level if we are going to
be competitive in a global, high tech economy."

The Seattle Weekly has this blurb:

State Senator Rodney Tom will announce this morning that he's bowing out of the race against Darcy Burner for the 8th Congressional District seat now held by Dave Reichert. Though he's only been at it a couple of months, Tom says Burner's a force to be reckoned with.

"Darcy's support is impressive," he says. "Our fundraising was going great but that level of support is how a campaign should be run. I have to take my hat off to her."

Burner, a former Microsoft manager, also ran in 2006, losing to Reichert by about three percentage points. She filed to run again in March, but Burner never really stopped campaigning for office.

Tom's throwing his support Burner's way. "I've been clear from the get go that this race has been about replacing Dave Reichert. She has the leadership and experience to make a great member of Congress and she's running a heck of a campaign."