was a potent demonstration of how money and manpower can transform a race even in an unfavorable political environment -- and a preview of the strategy that national party officials say they plan to replicate in the most competitive House and Senate races over the next 55 days.

Instead, it promotes such preventive measures as funding for contraceptives and expanded sex education geared toward avoiding pregnancy as well as support for adoption and services to new mothers, according to several people familiar with the legislation.

Brad Shannon reports in The Olympian on the influx of big money and national organizations into the race:

The Progressive Majority, which is backing left-of-center and minority candidates in several state and local races around the country, gave more than half of the $187,323 reported spent so far by three independent political action committees fighting against Sheldon.

Steven Friederich of The Daily World is on the story, too.

Anderson won't be there to accept this award in person because, uh, Cal Anderson has been dead for eleven years.

That's from The Stranger's Dan Savage, who sees the move as a slight at Rep. Ed Murray.

Ross defines herself as a more conservative Democrat than some of her fellow party members. She's a practicing Roman Catholic and believes in personal responsibility. She also believes it's important not to lie, cheat or be wasteful, either of tangible things such as money or intangibles such as trust.

I asked her dad, who made an unsuccessful run for Congress two years ago, what advice he had given his 22-year-old daughter.

I advised her to study the issues, meet as many voters in person as she can, get signs out, participate in every debate, tell the truth, and prepare to be belittled by the opposition because of her age.

I also told her she was smart enough to do this without help from me.

UPDATE: The Caitlin Ross campaign came to my attention via Palousitics, which critiques the young Ross' campaign.