YAWN

Being a Senate race that the New York Times recently hailed as being Senate seat no. 51, the campaign has certainly been rather boring. It lacks the crazy of Delaware and the passion and fight of Kentucky. There are no witches or Aqua Buddhas in Washington sadly. Just two candidates who stick to their message tried and true.
There is no scandal to be found in the state of Washington. It is as clean of a race as there can possibly be. The candidates exchange jabs back and forth about fiscal policy and their positions on the fate of the Bush era tax cuts. Maybe in years past this race would be more exciting. There is the normal cries of "class warfare" and only representing the wealthy, and may of the old avenues of attack that in 2010 just seem soooo last decade, what is this, 2004?

One can only imagine what the atmosphere was like at the second and final debate between the two. I imagine in the most casual way possible the went back and forth over some of the more traditional points of contention between traditional Democrats and Republicans. I imagine Sen. Murray defending her record of votes of the Recovery Act as well as the Health Care overhaul. Mr. Rossi preaching the gospel of tax cuts and specifically the Bush Tax Cuts. A sleepy crowd could hear them trading exchanges on immigration. Does the Republican candidate favor "border security?" yes he does. Does the Democrat argue on behalf of a path to citizenship? yes, she does. This race feels like you could simply drop the names of the candidates and just identify them by their party brand. After all both candidates represent the mainstream positions of their parties.

While of this may be of interest in previous elections years, this year it is just to tame to capture the national headlines. The race that could determine who has the majority in the Senate is just so far away and neither candidate has been on national television wresting, both candidates have failed to inflate the actions they took in Vietnam or any other foreign war. This race contains all the elements to keep the nation on the edge of its collective seat, but instead makes them want to grab a blanket and settle in for a nice autumn nap.