The American Spectator

br> Sen. George Allen is telling Republicans in Washington that he finally got his man to run against Sen. Patty Murray in Washington State next year. /p>

Rep. George Nethercutt, who has been riding the fence about whether or not to challenge the two-term senator, isn’t confirming anything, but Allen and his people on the National Republican Senatorial Committee aren’t denying it, either.

Nethercutt was the second-best hope for the GOP after Rep. Jennifer Dunn took a pass on the challenge, but he had been publicly leery of jumping into the race.

Allen made commitments of fundraising help, however, and the White House seemed supportive enough to push Nethercutt over the edge.

An established political name was seen as critical to downing Murray given the fundraising necessary to defeat an incumbent, especially in a liberal-voting state like Washington.

That said, Washington is seen a potential swing state for Republicans in 2004 if the issues fall right, and despite Nethercutt’s conservative voting record, he is a popular in-state political figure, particularly in rural areas.