From crooksandliars.com.

When I first started at Evergreen in the late Seventies, Denny Heck was one of the success stories our brand-new and decidedly wacky school liked to tell. The Greener who was making a difference in State government. And his record of accomplishment is substantial.

So when some of my fellow progressives sneeringly refer to Mr. Heck as the establishment candidate, or the business candidate, a part of me resists. I want a better sense of where Mr. Heck is on the issues of the day. And especially, of course, where he is on healthcare, and our overseas adventures.

Sadly, Denny Heck's official campaign website is of no help at all. There is no substance. No position on any issue. Not one. There is a link to contribute money, though.

More disturbingly, the ever-entertaining HorsesAss.org pointed out this recent quote from Heck, as reported in The Columbian:

Heck declined to say specifically what he thinks should be included in a health reform bill.

“I specifically favor those measures that will provide more people with affordable health care,” he said. “I will freely admit I have not read the 2,000-page bill.”

As Jon DeVore says in his HorsesAss blog: "So he specifically didn't say anything at all."

When Craig Pridemore comes out strongly for the public option and the use of reconciliation to get it passed, why would the Democratic base want to give Denny Heck the time of day, let alone their money, volunteer hours or endorsements?

That's not a rhetorical question.

As I said, I'd love to find a reason to be undecided, to feel like I'm being confronted with a serious choice here. So, what am I missing?

Deb Wallace just announced she is dropping out of the race to replace Brian Baird as Representative for the 3rd Congressional District. This narrows the race for the Democratic nomination, effectively, to Denny Heck and Craig Pridemore, at least at this point. Heck has the support of a great many establishment Democrats, especially in Olympia. Pridemore, a Clark County native, has strong support among netroots progressives.