OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - As their bare-knuckle rematch for governor enters its final phase, Democratic incumbent Chris Gregoire and Republican challenger Dino Rossi have plenty of unkind words for each other.

But here's one thing they can agree on: Barack Obama voters, I'm your candidate.

Gregoire, an early endorser of the Democratic presidential nominee-in-waiting, strongly positioned herself up as Obama's trusty co-pilot after edging Rossi in Tuesday's "top two" primary returns.

The Illinois senator's "change"-flavored agenda is simply an extension of her first term's accomplishments, and his seat at the top of the ticket will only add to her lead, Gregoire said.

"I expect Barack Obama to win Washington state, and I expect to be his partner as governor, to bring the kind of results we've achieved in Washington state all across America," Gregoire told The Associated Press.

But Rossi - running the more Obama-esque campaign as an outsider striving to change state government - wasn't about to let Gregoire walk away with the Democratic standard bearer, who leads in polls here and is expected to drive turnout in the general election.

"We have so many Obama supporters that are our supporters. One of my bigger fundraisers is an Obama supporter," Rossi told the AP. "We're going to have tens of thousands of people who are voting for Obama who will vote for us."

With the primary now behind them and their expected slots on the general election ballot secure, Gregoire and Rossi are lined up for an Olympic-class final sprint to November.

It's the final phase of a rematch four years in the making, set up by Gregoire's 133-vote 2004 win, which followed three vote counts and an unsuccessful Republican court challenge.

Unofficial returns in Tuesday's primary showed Gregoire with a lead - but not by much. With about 37 percent of the expected ballots counted, Gregoire had about 49 percent of the vote to Rossi's 45 percent. Under Washington's new primary system, Gregoire and Rossi will be the only two gubernatorial candidates listed on the ballot in November.

Analysts warned against reading too much into the primary. The pool of voters in these elections tends to be smaller, with an attentive, activist bent. The general election, particularly with an open presidential seat atop the ticket, will draw far more voters, including those more apt to cross party lines.

Still, the candidates and their supporters were swirling the tea leaves for signs of good fortune.

Gregoire said she was excited by her showing across the state, even in some conservative spots and counties she lost in the 2004 general election. Aside from frequently mentioning Obama, her campaign was pushing another O-word: One Washington.

"I think that it shows that the hard work that we've been undertaking over the last four years is resonating in urban and rural communities in all four corners of the state," Gregoire said.

For his part, Rossi crowed about nipping at the governor's heels. The former state senator said he only claimed 34 percent in the 2004 primary, when he shared the ballot with a Democratic nomination fight - and look at how that turned out in November.

"I feel good about where we are," Rossi said. "The reality is that less than half the people who are going to show up at the general voted in the primary. The bottom line is this is going to be a sprint to the end."

The campaign so far has been costly, and marked by acrid advertising on both sides. Now that we've turned the corner toward November, expect to hear more.

So far, Rossi has been painted as a callous penny-pincher who doesn't much care for teachers or domestic abuse victims and doesn't respect a woman right to have abortions or buy emergency contraception.

Gregoire is cast as a tired creature of the Olympia bureaucracy and a classic tax-and-spend liberal who has steered the state budget toward a projected $2.7 billion deficit.

Both campaigns have well-heeled surrogates - unions for her, the construction industry for him - helping to push the negative narratives. National governor's associations for both parties also are tuned up for the election.

The candidates themselves generally stay away from the mud in advertisements and talk about more about their own virtues. But you don't have to scratch very deep to get to a vein of acrimony.

As the primary results filtered in Tuesday night, Rossi was ready to pounce on Gregoire's spending record. Pointing to tax increases in Gregoire's first legislative session, Rossi said "she'll be satisfied with raising people's taxes again."

Gregoire punched back, accusing Rossi of serial fibbing: "It's a typical tactic of trying to create fear. He has absolutely no basis, none whatsoever. He makes things up, and continues to do so by making that statement."

It's going to be a long and blustery autumn.

No Big Surprises In Other Races

While all eyes were on the governor's race, the race for state treasurer was the only one where there was even a small bit of mystery.

Treasurer Mike Murphy is stepping down after three terms, and crossed party lines to endorse Republican Alan Martin, his top deputy. Martin moved through to the general election with about 44 percent of the vote. Democratic state Rep. Jim McIntire, an economist and former House Finance Committee chairman, also advanced with about 41 percent.

Both edged out Democrat ChangMook Sohn, who was the state's chief economist for more than two decades. Sohn got only about 15 percent.

Voters also advanced Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed and Democrat Jason Osgood to the general election. Reed had 58 percent of the vote in early returns; Osgood had about 34 percent.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson and Randy Dorn also moved on to the November general election.

Bergeson, running for her fourth term, faced five challengers in Tuesday's primary. Dorn, a former legislator, teacher and principal, had about 30 percent of the vote in early returns. With about 20 percent of the expected vote counted, Bergeson had 42 percent.

"It's going to be a tough race, but I felt very honored that people would give me a chance to run for a fourth term," Bergeson said. "I am determined to win and that means I will take nothing for granted, because there's too much at stake here in terms of the future of our schools."

Dorn is executive director of the Public School Employees of Washington, which represents about 26,000 school workers who are not teachers. In addition to that group, he also had the endorsement of the Washington Education Association, the other big school employees union.

"I'm excited about the number of people that voted for a change in Olympia," said Dorn, who has criticized Bergeson over the Washington Assessment of Student Learning and dropout rates. "Over the next few months, we're going to work harder and get our message out to more people."

The top two primary, which voters approved in 2004, was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year. This was the first time since 2003 that Washington voters were able to skip back and forth along party lines to pick a favorite candidate for each office. The top two finishers advance to the general election on Nov. 4, regardless of party.

Reed predicted a 46 percent turnout, and county officials surveyed by The Associated Press supported that forecast. The state's 39 counties' turnout expectations ranged from a low of 35 percent in Adams County to a high of 62 percent in Jefferson County.

If the forecast proved accurate, it would be the highest turnout since 1972, when turnout was more than 49 percent.

"This is such an important election," Reed said. "It's become more important with the top two. If you want your candidate in the general, you can't assume they will be there."

Reed cited the novelty of the new top two system, along with general interest in elections during a presidential and gubernatorial campaign year.

Other races included lieutenant governor, where incumbent Democrat Brad Owen easily advanced with 53 percent of the vote. State Auditor Brian Sonntag and Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, both Democrats, also advanced to the general election. All three face weak opposition in November.

Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna faced Democratic challenger Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg, and Republican Public Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland faced Democrat Peter Goldmark. All four advanced under the top two format, since there weren't any third challengers in either race.

In some legislative races:

-State Senate Budget Chairwoman Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, advanced to the November election with 49 percent of the vote. She will face one of two Democratic opponents - Juan Martinez or Scott McKay - in the race for the 11th District, which includes south Seattle and suburbs. Martinez had 27 percent of the vote in early returns, and McKay had 24 percent.

-Democrats Reuven Carlyle and John Burbank are headed for a general election faceoff, after advancing through the primary. They are vying for the 36th District seat vacated by retiring Rep. Helen Sommers, D-Seattle.

-Democrats Scott White and Gerry Pollet advanced to the general in the race to replace McIntire.

-Democrats Rep. Mary Roberts advanced in the race for the 21st District seat, and will face either Brian Travis or Douglas Kerley, both Republicans, in the general.