An odd coincidence has placed the Dow Constantine party (at Kells in Pike Place Market) right next to the Norman Sigler party (at Post). While Sigler's party looks polite and relatively sedate, Constantine's party—half an hour before the county announces the results of the only batch of ballots  that wil drop tonight—is crowded with campaign supporters getting raucous. A large number of county employees, guys in bike togs and jerseys, and political types in suits and loosened ties are chowing down on assorted cheeses, mini-tarts, and freuit; although Constantine is a strict vegetarian, campaign officials report that his request for an all-veggie spread went ignored.

People are clapping randomly. The candidate himself won't be here until about 8:20; a PubliCola team member reports that he just spotted Constantine tearing through the intersection of First and Virginia.

Constantine has surged in recent days and seems likely to emerge first among the four Democrats vying for county executive; a report from his Republican opponent Susan Hutchison's party will be coming shortly.