[Torie]

Thanks for the input. I don't think the 2004 election will be about the economy, particularly after all the action of this week, and assuming the stock and real estate markets continue to chug along OK.

[AntiGuv]

The 2004 elections may very well not be about the economy on a nationwide level, but they will near certainly be about the economy in Washington State. In 2000, Washington had as low as 4.2% unemployment; in 2003, Washington currently has 7.3% unemployment (sorry, it's Oregon with 8.1%). Whatever the stock & real estate markets might do nationwide (within reason), it's not going to make much difference for Washington. (Seattle, BTW, is one of the few places that's experienced a real estate bust). We shall see.