Primary: 1st glimpse into Reichert, Burner race

For Rep. Dave Reichert and challenger Darcy Burner, round two started Tuesday.

Reichert, the incumbent Republican representative for the 8th Congressional District, faces another challenge by Burner, the former Microsoft Corp. manager, who came out of nowhere in 2006 and nearly defeated the former King County sheriff.

Washington's other eight members of the U.S. House don't face significant challengers, and even the Burner-Reichert contest in Tuesday's primary was essentially a popularity contest.

However, the 8th District race in the suburbs east of Seattle is one of the most closely watched in the country.

Big names from both parties have visited the state to raise money and show support: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for Burner. Reichert welcomed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and House Minority Leader John Boehner.

Tuesday's first running of the state's new "top 2" primary system could foreshadow the race between Reichert and Burner. Under the new primary system, voters don't have to pick a party ballot, meaning both candidates are competing for the same primary voters.

Still, both parties have played down expectations, saying turnout during primaries is not enough to get a good sense of what's going with district voters.

Sandeep Kaushik, the spokesman for Burner's campaign, said she is focusing on November, and wouldn't be surprised if Reichert polled better on Tuesday.

"We thought going in that Congressman Reichert has all the power on his side," Kaushik said on Monday.

Reichert's campaign similarly downplayed the results, which won't be complete for several days as mail-in ballots trickle in.

"Speculation is all over the map," said Amanda Halligan, a spokeswoman for Reichert's campaign. "What the results will be and what the results will mean."

The 8th Congressional District has historically been a Republican stronghold, but it has supported Democrats for president in recent elections, and Burner came within 3 percent of defeating Reichert in 2006.

That year, Burner's inexperience in public office was played up by Reichert's campaign. In return, Burner's camp tried to link Reichert to President George Bush.

This year, both campaigns are flush with cash, although Burner has been the first to spend it, buying up television air time.

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On the Net:

Rep. Dave Reichert, http://www.davereichertforcongress.com/

Darcy Burner, http://www.darcyburner.com/