Oregonian: Primary a 'must win' for Rossi

It may not be a Washington state newspaper, but it is paying attention.  Today The Oregonian of Portland, Ore. published an editorial about the Evergreen State's "top two" primary, which Oregon is considering using in the next election.

Despite its southern roots The Oregonian is read by a large number of Vancouver residents, who are among the fastest growing population in the state, and its editors say they will be watching closely for high levels of turnout for the new top two process, and furthermore how the gubernatorial primary shapes up.

Perhaps more importantly, they weigh in on the heightened expectations game in the race, and they do so on the side of the Democrats.

"It raises the stakes considerably for Rossi," the piece says, "who must win Tuesday or come close, because Gregoire is likely to benefit in the November election from an anticipated surge in voting for Barack Obama."

In other words, the editorial writers for the Portland paper are putting more stock into the Democrats' Barack Obama down-ticket narrative than in the Republican-advanced historically under-performing GOP primary narrative.

It is a story that both sides will likely tout as favorable, with the Democrats drawing attention to their Obama bona fides, and Republicans saying "who needs ‘em?" to the outsider influence of The Oregonian. Results roll in at 8 PM.