Via profiles in the Seattle Times:
Dino Rossi - likable guy and upbeat, problem solver.
Christine Gregoire - "not so much."
Throw in some head in the sand campaigning and you've got all the ingredients for a close race in a blue state.
Add to the mix that Gregoire's campaign doesn't seem to be firing on all cylinders on either the Westside or Eastside of the state and you can understand the basic factors that explain why this race is so competitive.
Cross-posted at Sound Politics.