Les Blumenthal of McClatchy News Service is all over the papers, including The Olympian, today with a story about the lack of national Republican money for Mike McGavick. National Democrats aren't spending money here either, though Maria Cantwell has a lot more money in the bank.

Some political analysts said the decision not to advertise shows national Republicans have all but conceded the race to Cantwell and have decided to spend their money elsewhere as they struggle to retain control of the Senate.

Other analysts said McGavick is trying to portray himself as an independent. Given President Bush's dismal poll standings, they said, the last thing he wants are television ads linking him to national Republicans.

A spokesman for the McGavick campaign, Elliot Bundy, said the lack of advertising from the national Republican committees was not unexpected given the closeness of Senate races elsewhere. Bundy also said the campaign had enough of its own resources to make its case as the November election approaches.