Over in Spokane, things seem to be getting testy in the Republican race to squeeze through the top two primary and topple sitting Democratic Representative Don Barlow.

I caught wind of that in noting a post over on the public blog, which calls out Republican Mel Lindauer. He responded in the comments and I don't have any confirmation of who is right and who isn't (though I'm always open to additional information at ericearling at gmail dot com...hint, hint).

The post sent me to Lindauer's website, including this page of purported poll results intent on harming his competitor Kevin Parker.

As of this typing, the PDC website shows $63,760 in cash contributions for Parker, $46,258 for Lindauer. Meanwhile, Parker's endorsements include a goodly collection of local GOP heavyweights, various community leaders, and assorted interest groups weighing in on the race. Lindauer's list by comparison, just like his contributors, is excessively weighted with his fellow optometrists. The only interest group support he has secured, aside from his fellow eye docs, is joint primary endorsements from Human Life of WA and the Spokane Realtors.

We've seen such formulas before when candidates with a narrow base of support squeak through a primary to take on a Democratic incumbent in a suburban seat (which is what the 6th LD now is in many respects). They get killed.

That won't do anybody any good. Parker easily looks to be the best candidate in the race. His background and issue agenda are exactly what the GOP needs in Olympia right now.

Here's hoping he cruises through the primary and on to a successful November.