State Sen. Rodney Tom (D-Medina) has withdrawn from the race for U.S. Rep for Washington's 8th District.  Seven weeks ago, Tom announced that he would run for the Democratic nomination to challenge Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn), drawing ire from bloggers solidly behind Darcy Burner, the 2006 nominee.  Tom is a former Republican state representative, but he switched parties in 2006 to challenge a Republican state senator and defeated him decisively in the rapidly bluing Eastside of King County.

Tom has endorsed Burner, saying, "Our fundraising was going great, but Darcy Burner's campaign has been phenomenal. Darcy has over 3,200 contributors, an incredible statement to her broad base of support."  Indeed.

With an eye to the general election, Tom noted that his "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."

Today's Tulsa World has a story in which Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), notable for such leadership as calling global warming "the greatest hoax ever perpetrating on the American people" and repeatedly cutting off Al Gore when he testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, says that he is "the next Richard Pombo" in that national Democrats and environmentalists have him in their sights and will expend lots of resources to defeat him next November.

I hope he's right!