The primary election ballots are in and as the votes continue to be counted there are some interesting trends in the numbers.

Statewide in the Democratic presidential primary Sen. Barak Obama is winning as of today (Wednesday) with 259,323 votes and 49.99 percent. Sen. Hillary Clinton had 243,306 votes and 46.9 percent.

The results in Pierce County are running counter to the state trend on the Democratic side of the ballot. Clinton is leading with 30,454 and 51.83 percent to Obama's 26,644 and 45.34 percent.

In King County the numbers are following the statewide results. Obama leads with 54.49 percent and 67,477 votes to Clinton's 53,324 votes and 43.06 percent.

Statewide Sen. John McCain is winning handily on the Republican side with 187,051 votes and 48.9 percent.

In Pierce County McCain is ahead by a sizable margin, 22,651 votes with 52.09 percent. Mike Huckabee gathered 10,031 votes with 23.07 percent.

King County also has McCain up with 31,177 votes and 54.39 percent. Huckabee garnered 10,607 votes and 18.51 percent.

For the Democrats the primary numbers do not count toward choosing delegates to the national convention. The delegates will be selected through the caucus process.

The Republicans are choosing half of the delegates through the caucuses and half through the primary.

Complete election results are available on the Web.

Statewide

€ www.secstate.wa.gov

Pierce County

€ www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/aud/elections

King County

€www.metrokc.gov/elections.