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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Mike's Bike. A Weakness or a Strength?

News   March 27, 2009 at 11:22 am Josh Feit

How many mayoral candidates bike to TV interviews? 

I ran into Mike McGinn this morning as I was leaving KING 5, and he was coming in. He rode in on this: 

 

 

I see an angle here. Sorta like Patty Murray was the “Mom in Tennis Shoes,” McGinn could be the “Dad on a Bike.” 

It seems like that could work in Green Seattle. Or perhaps it would marginalize him as the weirdo lefty candidate. I’m not sure, but I thought it was kinda cool.


  • http://alexandrab.tumblr.com/ FilmNerd

    I love it!

  • http://alexandrab.tumblr.com FilmNerd

    I love it!

  • BallardSting

    This isn’t “an angle”, Michael actually practices what he preaches.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @2,

    I think Murray actually ran around in tennis shoes to.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @2,

    I think Murray actually ran around in tennis shoes to.

  • http://seattlest.com/ MvB

    It probably would help him more in PDX than here, but I think it’s a net gain, especially if he lets his bike do his “green cred” talking for him. It’s wrong-headed for a guy who risks being known as a Sierra Club candidate to hit Nickels (as he did yesterday) solely on green issues. If he’d said something critical about the handling of Snowmageddon, he’d be on the front page of the Seattle Times this morning. People want local gov’t to work–vision (green or otherwise) is a value add.

  • http://seattlest.com MvB

    It probably would help him more in PDX than here, but I think it’s a net gain, especially if he lets his bike do his “green cred” talking for him. It’s wrong-headed for a guy who risks being known as a Sierra Club candidate to hit Nickels (as he did yesterday) solely on green issues. If he’d said something critical about the handling of Snowmageddon, he’d be on the front page of the Seattle Times this morning. People want local gov’t to work–vision (green or otherwise) is a value add.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Mv8,

    He got on “the cover” of PubliCola anyway.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Mv8,

    He got on “the cover” of PubliCola anyway.

  • hbkahn

    I live up on Phinney Ridge and see Mike biking by almost every day as I wait for the bus. This is definitely no stunt.

  • hbkahn

    I live up on Phinney Ridge and see Mike biking by almost every day as I wait for the bus. This is definitely no stunt.

  • Chris Stefan

    Can Mayor Nickels even get on a bike anymore? He looks like he needs a bit more exercise.

    Anyone who wants to defeat Nickles needs to attack him on bread and butter basic city services issues. Sure you can push other angles too, but potholes, snow removal, sidewalks, crime prevention, and other basics will gain you a lot more traction.

  • Chris Stefan

    Can Mayor Nickels even get on a bike anymore? He looks like he needs a bit more exercise.

    Anyone who wants to defeat Nickles needs to attack him on bread and butter basic city services issues. Sure you can push other angles too, but potholes, snow removal, sidewalks, crime prevention, and other basics will gain you a lot more traction.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @6,

    I didn’t think it was a stunt. I thought it was cool. And it occurred to me that it could be turned into a campaign schtick.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    @6,

    I didn’t think it was a stunt. I thought it was cool. And it occurred to me that it could be turned into a campaign schtick.

  • http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity dan bertolet

    http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2009/03/27/mike-bikes/

    (scooped Josh by about an hour and a half)

  • http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity dan bertolet

    http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2009/03/27/mike-bikes/

    (scooped Josh by about an hour and a half)

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Mr. Bertolet,

    As you know: I bow down to the hugeasscity.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    Mr. Bertolet,

    As you know: I bow down to the hugeasscity.

  • BallardSting

    This isn't “an angle”, Michael actually practices what he preaches.