Benton campaign a family affair

State Sen. Don Benton has enlisted his three sons, age 23, 15 and 13, in his campaign to defeat U.S. Sen. Patty Murray. They’ll be helping the Vancouver Republican launch his “People for Benton” new media campaign, which will allow the campaign to communicate with supporters via Twitter, FaceBook, Flickr, YouTube and blogs.

Benton’s latest campaign volley urges supporters to demand that Murray oppose a Washington state income tax. It’s not clear how Murray would influence such a decision, since she serves in the U.S. Senate, not in the Legislature, and since a state income tax — while briefly floated as a trial balloon by Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown a few weeks back — has zero chance of making it onto the ballot this year.

Kathie Durbin