Sen. Patty Murray (D) is comfortably ahead of her Republican opponent, Dino Rossi, in the Washington state Senate race, according to a poll released last night. The Elway Poll, a respected Washington-based survey company, reports Murray is leading 50-41.
Other polling from the contest suggests the race is a good deal closer than that. The TPM Poll Average shows Murray leading 48.9-47.3. The last Elway poll, taken way back in June, showed Murray ahead of Rossi 47-40.
In his analysis of the new numbers pollster Stuart Elway says things are closer than his numbers may make them appear on first glance.
“Although Murray is at 50% in this survey, there are enough “soft” supporters for each candidate, plus undecided voters and supporters of other candidates — not to mention time on the calendar — to determine the eventual outcome,” Elway said, according to the Seattle Times.
The trendlines:
