Republicans in Washington are having trouble recruiting candidates.

That’s what our Niki Sullivan reported Monday. And Jerry Cornfield of the Herald in Everett wrote Sunday that Dino Rossi is turning some attention to soliciting other Republicans to join him on the ticket. He figures his chances of knocking off Gov. Chris Gregoire this year are enhanced with each political ally spreading the word in each legislative and congressional district.

But the better question than why there’s a shortage of candidates might be why would anyone want to run for office? OK, what normal person? That question applies more to those currently in the minority but also should be contemplated by candidates being recruited to run as Democrats.

Here are the eight most obvious reasons why anyone considering a run for office should run away instead.

1. Too many safe districts. Partly due to partisan manipulation and party due to the fact that voters tend to live among like-minded people, most legislative and congressional districts in Washington are one-party districts. If you represent the majority party, that means easy re-election. But if you happen to be a candidate in a district where your party is in the minority, your job is to run and lose.

2. Too much begging. Much of what a challenger does is beg for money. And each request comes with the implied commitment to do – or at least considering doing – whatever the donor wants. It’s not just demeaning, it feeds cynicism when what a candidate needs to suffer the indignities of running is idealism.

3. It’s less fun being the lightning rod than the lightning. Many voters think candidates and incumbents both are fair game for any and all levels of abuse. If politicians got a buck for every time someone said “I pay your salary,” they wouldn’t have to beg for money from special interests.

4. Too little news coverage. Some challengers assume they’ll get the good with the bad – some badly needed publicity along with criticism. But more often the issues take a back seat to the politics, and challengers are left behind in the name-familiarity race.

5. Too much news coverage. Yep, we’re as guilty as anyone of ladling on the abuse. It’s what we do. But there’s a difference between accountability and nitpicking, between being public-spirited and mean-spirited.

6. What a life. Thanks for agreeing to put your name and reputation on the line for the sake of the party and all you believe. Now spend the next 10 months doorbelling, dialing for dollars, filling out questionnaires filled with loaded questions for dozens of interest groups, and attending forums where the candidates often outnumber the voters.

And if you win? Say goodbye to the spouse and kids and any semblance of a normal life.

7. Minority parties are no party at all. So if you win, what exactly do you win if your party is in the minority in Olympia? Not much. Minority lawmakers – Republicans for now – are nonplayers. And Republicans treated Democrats the same way when they had the majority. All minority legislators can do is issue dire warnings, Casandra-like, while no one listens.

8. Mud: Dealing it, receiving it. What’s more damaging to the candidate’s soul, being the recipient of half-truths and innuendos or employing them against someone else? Either way, it will be your life for months at a time. You dish the dirt and get dished in return.

Are you in bed with big tobacco? Do you support sex offenders? Did you act against the interests of children? Are you on the take? There are people in each party who spend their days producing campaign mail that makes all that seem mild.

Here’s a tip: Don’t let your kids or your mother pick up the mail.

Some of this sympathy won’t go over well with many voters. It isn’t fashionable, after all, to feel sorry for politicians.

Wait, that’s the ninth reason.

Peter Callaghan: 253-597-8657

peter.callaghan@thenewstribune.com

blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics