Rossi 46 percent, Gregoire 48 percent.

In a press release a earlier this hour, Rossi called that a "strong showing" and pointed out that he got just 34 percent of the vote in 2004. (Note: Although in 2004, Democratic turnout in the primary was spurred by a heated Democratic faceoff between Gregoire and King County Executive Ron Sims.)

Rossi said he's happy with the outcome and looking forward to the next few months. And then came a preview of what we'll hear a lot of between now and November:

“Christine Gregoire sees Washington state the way it is today and she is satisfied. In Christine Gregoire’s Washington our economy is fine, there is no transportation crisis, she is satisfied with the education of our children, and she believes we are safe enough. In the end, Christine Gregoire is so satisfied with how things are today in Washington, that she wants us to have four more years of the same thing. I believe we can and must do better.”

Gregoire's take?

We're feeling good; we take nothing for granted,” Gregoire said in a phone interview from a campaign party in Seattle. “We've got momentum.”

She said she feels the voting suggests that her message of positive results for all Washingtonians is resonating across the state.

Asked if she's disappointed to be polling below 50 percent, she said no, and noted that there were nine other candidates for governor in this primary.

Also, she noted that vote counting will continue for days to come.

“It's not over yet,” she said.

---

---