The question on everybody's lips is, does the primary matter?

Actually, that question is on the lips only of the people who care about the primary, which Sec. of State Sam Reed thinks will be slightly less than half of the voting population of Washington.

We think the crowd of who cares is more accurately limited to candidates, the press who cover them, and the twenty or so odd consultants who make their livings leeching off of them.

It's August 19th, if you were wondering. Most people are still on vacation, and there's no presidential to bump up turnout.

Dino Rossi says it doesn't matter, unless he wins. Chris Gregoire says it doesn't really matter, unless she dominates. And the Democratic and Republican parties say it doesn't matter at all, unless they can challenge it in court.