Rossi is a multi-millionaire who self-financed his campaign. His strategy of uniting suburbanites, east-of-the-Cascades residents, and conservative Democrats (ie the blue collar Dems in Pierce and Thurston counties in the case of Rossi) could work for Atkinson.
When he ran thats the first thing I thought. Hes got some support from democrat politician and has more respect from environmental groups then most republicans get. He has a good shot to gain democrat supports even though hes the most conservative canidate.