Washington State gubernatorial Race

State Democrats sent out a memo of their own today that calls into question the validity of the pre-primary memo sent out by the Dino Rossi for governor campaign earlier this week, thus playing their own version of the expectations game.

Citing the boost Democrats hope to get from Barack Obama in the general election, they suggest Tuesday's primary is Rossi's best chance for a victory at the polls. "Between next Wednesday and November," the memo states, "Rossi's electoral prospects will become substantially worse."

Democrats point to two major factors in their memo, voting demographics and alternative views of past results.

Although Governor Chris Gregoire led the May fundraising battle between her and opponent Dino Rossi, $785,000 to $701,000 and the overall matchup $6.8 million to $5.15 million, the Rossi campaign is claiming that it has raised more money, both in May and throughout the campaign, from in-state individuals and businesses.

The Seattle Times' David Postman first reported this morning that Gregoire received $200,000 of her $785,000 in May from the state Democratic Party. Postman also notes that Gregoire has received $511,000 of the $2 million she has raised since officially beginning her campaign two months ago has come from the state party.

Dino Rossi may highlight his campaign's hybrid Ford Escape SUV that gets nearly 28 miles to the gallon, but independent gubernatorial candidate Christopher Tudor is going a few steps higher in his bid for the state house. Tudor issued a press release today announcing that he would be taking public transit all the way from Seattle to Olympia in order to file for the ballot.

"I want to embrace the use of public transportation to illustrate how we can all do more to help solve the issues our citizens continue to face with regards to the economy and environment," Tudor said.Christopher Tudor

Washington's two main gubernatorial candidates will be trotting out some local-boys-done-good for fundraising events this week.

 Tuesday in Vancouver Republican Dino Rossi will hold a fundraiser with the former Prairie High School and Gonzaga University basketball standout Dan Dickau, who current plays for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. The Dickau event includes a $500 per person VIP reception and a $150 general reception.

Then on Friday at 8PM, Gov. Chris Gregoire will appear with popular Seattle indie rock band The Cave Singers at Neumo's in Seattle. Tickets for the show are $15.

In a recent article in the Seattle Times, state GOP chair Luke Esser forecasted sarcasm and humor in this year's political attacks.

"I think humor has the potential to be far more devastating to your opponent than the meanest thing you can say about them," Esser told the paper.

Less than a week later he is living up to his promise. Esser sent out a press release Thursday deriding Governor Chris Gregoire for the op-ed piece she co-wrote on Thursday with King County Executive Ron Sims and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

Dino Rossi took questions on KUOW's "The Conversation" radio show this afternoon in Seattle. The main focus of his time was spent talking about his transportation plan, where he reiterated his message that his plan would provide more choices for commuters while his opponent Governor Chris Gregoire, refused to take a stand. Rossi also defended his plan's numbers and maintained that providing for alternate methods of transportation were not under the jurisdiction of the governor.

He was also asked by callers about his position on abortion rights and whether or not he would renounce the support of the Building Industry Association of Washington in response to their repeatedly controversial positions and comments.