Wash. 05: Rural District Sticks with Quiet Nethercutt

(AllPolitics, Nov. 6) -- Freshman Republican Rep. George Nethercutt got through to voters despite his softspoken, serious approach to retain Washington's 5th District and defeat Democrat Judy Olson.

Nethercutt, who toppled former House Speaker Tom Foley two years ago, earnestly defended his vote to slow Medicare's growth as a vote to save it.

Olson, a farmer, took a centrist tack in the largely rural district that is nearly evenly divided between the parties. She attacked Nethercutt's partisan record, including his votes for GOP environmental measures.

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