David Postman offers some coverage of the looming spending coming from a PAC of Democratic interests (past Sound Politics coverage of the group here and here). Without saying it directly, the underlying message is that a collection of "powerful special interests," to paraphrase a message that has been bandied about lately, is about to unload on Dino Rossi.

The norms of journalistic objectivity necessitate much of Postman's approach, which implies rather than states the obvious turn of events. Yet, it would make for more honest discourse to just speak plainly about what we all know is coming.

"It's still not clear exactly how Evergreen Progress will spend the money."

Yes, it is. They're going to pummel Dino Rossi. With Gregoire and Rossi both on pace to smash their respective fundraising records from 2004, they - coupled with the Republican Governor's Association and the Democratic Governor's Association - will have ample resources to say positive things about themselves. Someone has to do a healthy chunk of the dirty work on the left side of the aisle.

Enter Evergreen Progress:

Governor Gregoire and Dino Rossi both have records and both have positions on important issues that are informed by that record. For months we've heard and read a lot about what some people think about Governor Gregoire's record - it's been pretty hard hitting. I'm pretty sure the folks advancing this line of argument feel justified in their work. What's good for the goose is good for the gander - the truth will get out - and I hope we're part of it.

More blunt translation: "we're going to beat the living daylights out of the other guy."

To Postman's credit, he alludes to this truth repeatedly without directly predicting it, by laying out facts for the reader to connect. Note the extended discussion of the connection between former Patty Murray staffer Rick Desimone, running the PAC in question, and the tactics Murray employed in 2004. Those amounted to torch your opponent first and ask questions later.

All to say, anyone paying attention knows a big, negative expenditure is coming against Dino Rossi. That is to be expected in this much-watched, high-profile contest. But it makes Democratic protestations about the BIAW and Gregoire's own "rock bottom" claim all the more disingenuous. That should be even more obvious as this campaign unfolds.