That's the assessment of Seattle Times columnist Joni Balter, who spoke to Rossi this week about taking on Patty Murray. Balter writes:

Three months ago, voters would have chortled at the far-fetched idea that two-time gubernatorial candidate and former state Sen. Dino Rossi could run against Sen. Patty Murray this fall and have a prayer. Now, polls show Rossi the only Republican with a shot. I spoke with him recently and came away convinced he is eager to run, but not in a hurry. He has a difficult calculation to make.

Rossi can look to the Tea Party and be inspired that Republicans and even a few swing voters are fired up enough to support change. Rossi is not a fresh face, but he is a Washington, D.C., outsider. He is a Republican, not a Tea Party guy, but needs those voters to succeed. [snip]

In our state, Murray has yet to appear on a substantial list of vulnerable senators, and Rossi has yet to declare his candidacy. If he does, that could change. He tells people he has millions of dollars of name familiarity, which is true. He can legally delay until June, though that is politically very late.

Republicans wonder if the next election cycle might be like 1994, when Washington's congressional delegation swung from eight Democrats and one Republican to seven Republicans and two Democrats. Republicans want to be ready, in case.

The latest poll of the Washington Senate race, taken by Rasmussen two weeks ago, showed Rossi leading Murray 48 to 46.

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