By Dan Springer

SEATTLE -- In Washington state, where the Republican brand doesn't have the luster it used to, some right-leaning politicians are opting to call themselves anything but "Republican."

When Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi appears on the primary ballot this summer, his party designation will simply read "G.O.P.," the long-used shorthand for Grand Old Party, a synonym for the Republican Party.

Other candidates are also leaving the Republican moniker behind, thanks to the state's new "top two" primary. Instead of considering a candidate's party, the system pits the top two vote recipients against each other in the state general election. Key to the trend of Republicans shunning their party name, if not the platform -- the system allows candidates to choose any party label they want, or none at all.

Local Democratic leaders say it's a cheap trick.

"Dino Rossi and these folks that are trying to hide the ball ... they're trying to hide who they are, what they stand for, where they come from. I think it's shameful," said Dwight Pelz, chairman of the Washington state Democratic Party.

Among those distancing themselves from the "R" word is Curtis Fackler, who is running for state insurance commissioner. His "party affiliation" of choice: "No Party Preference." Fackler also is chairman of the Spokane County chapter of the Republican Party.

"There's 30 percent of people in the state that would not vote for a Republican no matter what, and we want to go around that. We want them to read our statements and see where we're coming from," Fackler said.

According to a recent University of Washington survey, that number might be optimistic. Researchers found more than 50 percent of the state's registered voters have an unfavorable view of the Republican Party, 15 percent more than those who had an unfavorable view of the Democratic Party.

But Steve Beren, a Republican trying to unseat Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott, thinks his colleagues are making a big mistake.

"Have bold colors, wave the Republican flag boldly. Wave fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, immigration conservatism -- boldly," Beren said.

For his part, Rossi, who lost the race for governor four years ago by only 133 votes, says he's always used the Grand Old Party nickname.

"It's showing on the Democrats' part how little they think of the voters of the state of Washington, that they somehow don't know the GOP means Republican. It's kind of insulting to the voters, I think," he said.

Other non-Republican contenders have gotten even more creative with their ballot labels.

Among voters' choices: America's Third Party, The Party of Commons and The Salmon/Yoga Party.