There is no rule in politics that you have to outspend your opponent to win the race. Not at all: Every cycle, plenty of outspent candidates wind up winning. But there is a more general rule of thumb that says, candidates who are very heavily outspent seldom win. Almost always, you need to be in the ballpark; otherwise, your opponent’s money - if it’s intelligently spent - can swamp you.

That’s the problem facing Democrats as they focus on what theoretically should be their top takeover target in the Northwest among Republican-held seats: The Washington 8th, held by Dave Reichert. Ever since he was sworn in, Reichert has - uncomfortably, one has to suppose - zigged and zagged to try to find a middle ground between his centrist district and a Republican party in Congress which is generally far more conservative than it is.

Democrats, down now to one major candidate, Darcy Burner, have a candidate of some quality and a case not hard to make in this district. But they risk being swamped by Reichert’s bucks.

The $1.1 million he raised by the end of last year looks a little better than it is, since actual cash on hand was (by New Year’s) down to $580,542. Still, compare that to Burner’s numbers: $205,332 received and $111,857 on hand.

The 8th District Democrats don’t need to match or exceed Reichert to play here competitively. But they will need to come closer than they have so far.

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