SEATTLE – Washington’s primary election Aug. 17 drew a visit from President Barack Obama to bolster the campaigns of vulnerable Democratic candidates – and generated some excitement when a private plane entered restricted airspace. F-15 fighter jets responding to the area triggered sonic booms felt in several areas of King County.

But the biggest boom may have come from the Republican campaigns and their unified message that government must save more and spend less. When the votes were counted, four Native candidates – one Republican, three Democrats – found themselves in potentially close races in the Nov. 2 general election.

Former state senator and two-time governor candidate Dino Rossi, Tlingit, won a spot on the general election ballot in the race for U.S. Senate. Rossi, a Republican, and Patty Murray, a Democrat and three-term senator, topped a field of 15 candidates that included Clint Didier, a farmer and former NFL tight end who made three Super Bowl appearances.

Rossi, who lost the 2004 election for governor by only 129 votes could be in another close race. In final results, Murray received 670,284 votes, Rossi 483,305 votes. That’s a difference of 186,979 votes.

Consider this: Republican Didier received 185,034 votes. Republican businessman Paul Akers received 37,231. That’s 222,265 votes. If Republicans stay loyal, they could give Rossi a 35,286-vote lead. However, votes from all other contenders – among them Centrist Party, Reform Party and No Party Preference – total 74,272.

Health care and immigration reform are important topics, but the economy is particularly a hot button here, where the unemployment rate is hovering at 8.9 percent and public services are being cut.

Rossi must convince voters that government can cut spending and save more, and he must also articulate how. Rossi proposes directing unspent bailout and stimulus funds toward deficit reduction; passing a balanced budget amendment that requires a supermajority to raise taxes; and cutting government employment and reducing “overly generous pay and benefits.”

Murray must convince voters that the economic recovery policies she’s supported the last two years are working, or that at least those policies have stopped the economy’s downward slide (Ford Motor Co. is reporting a profit, banks are repaying rescue loans, and 18 states and the District of Columbia recorded jobless rate decreases in July.) In addition, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law July 21, improves accountability and transparency in the financial system, protects taxpayers by ending bailouts, and protects consumers from abusive financial services practices.

Rossi may find further hurdles in trying to portray Murray as another big-spender inside the Beltway.

“The 2010 budget Murray backed would cut the federal deficit by 60 percent, or $824 billion, by 2014 from what it otherwise would have been, according to the non-partisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C.,” a Seattle Times analysis reported Aug. 18.

The “save more, spend less” message was successfully employed by Republican Joe Fain, who outpolled Democrat Claudia Kauffman, Nez Perce, for the 47th District state Senate seat in populous King County. Kauffman is running for a second four-year term.

Both were on the primary ballot to give opportunity to potential write-in candidates, but the primary proved to be an important test run for the general election: Fain received 14,024 votes, Kauffman 11,183.

Fain is chief of staff to a King County Council member and is a former District Court judicial aide. He has a law degree from Seattle University.

“Government must save more and spend less, make government more responsible with our tax dollars,” he states on his website. “Out-of-control state spending has only made matters worse – a broken budget, billions in deficits, and severe cutbacks to our schools and colleges.”

As senator, Kauffman has been grappling with issues like meeting the state’s obligation to adequately fund education amid declining state revenues. On her website, she states that her values are “straightforward:” be independent, control spending, reject new taxes, create jobs, champion children “and never forget veterans.”

Kauffman voted against overturning a voter-approved initiative that requires two-thirds approval of any tax increases, and said she is opposed to a state income tax (Washington is one of nine states without one).

Kauffman is assistant majority whip and vice chairwoman of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. She also serves on the Human Services and Corrections Committee, Rules Committee and Transportation Committee. Outside the Legislature, she is the Muckleshoot Tribe’s charity fund and federal relations liaison.

In the 38th District, state Rep. John McCoy, Tulalip, received 11,077 votes in his bid for a fifth two-year term. He is a Democrat. Hugh Fleet, a Republican, received 9,499 votes. He is telecommunications manager for the Marysville School District.

McCoy is chairman of the House Technology, Energy and Communications Committee. He is a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and the Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. He is chairman of the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators.

In the House and in his community, McCoy has worked to expand access to affordable energy, health care and technology, create jobs and improve vocational education. Until recently, he was manager of Quil Ceda Village; he resigned to start his own consulting firm. Quil Ceda Village, a municipality on the Tulalip reservation, is the fourth-largest source of jobs in Snohomish County; businesses there include the largest outlet mall in Washington state and the largest hotel between Seattle and the Canadian border.

In the 40th District, state Rep. Jeff Morris, Tsimshian, received 18,348 votes and Republican businessman John Swapp received 14,575 to advance to the general election. Howard Pellett, Green Party, received 2,666.

Morris, House speaker pro tem, is seeking an eighth term. He is a member of the House Audit Review and Oversight Committee; the Ecology and Parks Committee; the Rules Committee; the Technology, Energy and Communications Committee; and the Transportation Committee.

Morris is an expert on energy resources planning. He is CEO of Energy Horizon LLC and directs energy resource planning in the Pacific Northwest Economic Region for the company. He is co-founder of an investment group that invests exclusively in new energy technologies. As director of the Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative, Morris and his team worked to accelerate growth of the energy-technology industry in the region.

In addition, the Canadian Consulate recognized him for his legislative efforts to eliminate commerce barriers between the U.S. and Canada.

Richard Walker is a correspondent reporting from San Juan Island, Wash. Contact him at rmwalker@rockisland.com.