Is Tom As Good As Golden?

How do you react when provided with a gift from a seeming enemy?

The 48th District Dems are faced with a little bit of a Trojan Horse dilemma with the defection of Rodney Tom from the ranks of the GOP as the newest Democratic legislator in the Washington State House. I'm not suggesting Tom is the enemy, but he is an enigma for Democrats in the district. On the one hand everyone is happy to see an R flip and become a D. Who wouldn't be (unless you're an R)? However, on the other hand Tom's defection has made everything so much more complicated. What about Debi Golden? Why was she asked to run only for party leadership to turn and support Rodney Tom as a candidate? Is Debi now being asked to not run? Will she anyway? (Quick answer: yes!) What does it say if we support a flipped R over a true blue Dem? Etc...

From what I've seen, heard and sense, Rodney Tom is not a plant. I think he is sincere, if perhaps confused and searching for a home. I don't think that he will immediately find that the Democratic party is that home, not because he doesn't share many of the same social concerns progressives do, but because there will be understandable distrust, and in this particular case, loyalty for his opponent. Tom needs time.

Unfortunately he doesn't have much.

Meanwhile Debi Golden received a lot of support at the monthly district meeting, and she put on a good face despite the blind-sided move of party brass. Rodney Tom really isn't the enemy, and the two got along very well during the meeting. The issues with this situation isn't one either of them would have desired. However, the winner of this primary should end up a strong candidate for having had to run a contested primary. Golden has the advantage of not having to convince voters that she really is a Democrat. The sensation of Tom's defection will only give the race more press coverage, and Golden more name recognition. So should she win, she will be better prepared to face Esser, and more people will have heard of her.

There will be many opportunities for core Democrats to find out more about both candidates, and I hope that the primary race remains civil and focused on the real enemy - the Republican leadership. At the end of the day, we must not lose sight of the real goal amidst the complexity of this race. At the end of the day Luke Esser must be ousted, and now we have two qualified candidates to choose from to ensure that happens come November.

Cross-posted at Washblog.