Newhouse leading Didier in 4th District

SPOKANE - Republican Dan Newhouse was narrowly leading fellow GOP candidate Clint Didier in Washington's 4th Congressional District, a race which marked the first time in state history that two members of the same party appeared on the fall ballot for a U.S. House seat.

Since 2008, Washington has had a top-two primary system, meaning the top two vote-getters regardless of party affiliation advance to the general election.

Didier, a former NFL player and tea party favorite, and Newhouse, a mainstream conservative, fought to distinguish themselves to voters in the conservative central Washington district.

The candidates seek to replace retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, who held the seat for 20 years.

The 4th Congressional District covers Yakima, the Tri-Cities, Moses Lake and much of the central portion of the state.

While external polling has been scarce, fundraising numbers showed Newhouse with a decisive money advantage. Newhouse raised about $726,000, according to the most recent filings with the Federal Elections Commission; Didier raised more than $423,000.

Newhouse is a farmer from Sunnyside and a former state legislator and director of the state Department of Agriculture. He picked up most of the establishment endorsements in the race, including nods from Hastings and the National Rifle Association. His father Irv was a powerful GOP legislator and his campaign has focused on mainstream GOP issues.

Didier, a farmer from Eltopia, earned the endorsement of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and former presidential contender Rick Santorum. His campaign was long on references to God, guns and patriotism.

The Washington state Republican Party declined to issue an endorsement.

Didier led by 6 percentage points after the crowded primary, 31 percent to 25 percent.

In a recent television ad, Newhouse said he would protect Social Security and use common sense to balance the budget and cut government spending. His campaign contends Didier wants to phase out Social Security and eliminate the Veterans Administration.

Didier's campaign shot back that the nation is morally obligated to pay the elderly what they have paid in to Social Security. As for the VA, Didier's campaign said he wants to reduce administrative costs, while providing more money for the care of veterans.

Didier's call for smaller government placed him at odds with boosters of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, the largest single employer in the district. Hanford receives some $2 billion a year in federal funds to clean up the nation's largest collection of nuclear waste.

In a mid-October debate in Pasco, Didier said he did not want to cut Hanford spending, but thought enough was being spent on cleanup. Newhouse said the federal government has a commitment to clean up the waste left over from helping win the Cold War and World War II.