Washington Governor’s Race Getting Closer

Rasmussen Reports ^ | August 8, 2008

[Clintonfatigued]

As Election Day draws closer, the governor’s race in Washington, a replay of the 2004 contest, keeps getting more competitive. Incumbent Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire now leads by just four percentage points.

A month ago, she was up by six points over Republican challenger Dino Rossi. Two months ago, the incumbent held a seven-point lead and the month before that, Governor Gregoire enjoyed aneleven-point lead.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state shows Gregoire attracting 47% of the vote while Rossie earns 43%. This is the second straight month that Greogoire’s support has stayed below the 50% mark. When “leaners” are included, Gregoire does reach that threshold and leads Rossi 50% to 46%. Leaners are survey participants who initially indicate no preference for either major candidate but indicate that they are leaning towards either McCain or Obama.

[Clintonfatigued]

This one could be another cliffhanger.

[hunter112]

It’d be nice if WA voters could rectify the mistake made four years ago, and Dino Rossi got the victory he earned. Too bad I’m not there anymore, I’d have his sticker on my bumper!

[radiohead]

What is the GOP word on the street about this race?

I voted for Rossi when I lived in Seattle and am still seething over the rotten, cheating, King County elections tactics even tho I moved away over a year ago.

[Clintonfatigued]

A lot of Washington state residents are probably thinking the same thing.

[Junior_G]

It can’t help Governor Smegoire that she just came out and called opposition to her sweetheart deal with tribal casinos “racist”.

[GOP Poet]

I can't wait to see a Republican in the governorship

[AuH2ORepublican]

“Leaners are survey participants who initially indicate no preference for either major candidate but indicate that they are leaning towards either McCain or Obama.”

---

So in this poll of the gubernatorial race “leaners” doesn’t refer to whether voters are leaning towards Gregoire or Rossi, but whether they’re leaning towards McCain or Obama? I really hope that’s a typo on the part of Rasmussen, because if that’s how they add in leaners their methods are even shoddier than I had thought.

[sionnsar]

Thanks to Clintonfatigued for the ping.

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.

Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[sionnsar]

So in this poll of the gubernatorial race “leaners” doesn’t refer to whether voters are leaning towards Gregoire or Rossi, but whether they’re leaning towards McCain or Obama? I really hope that’s a typo on the part of Rasmussen, because if that’s how they add in leaners their methods are even shoddier than I had thought.

As I read this, "leaners" indicated NO preference between Rossi(e) and Gregoire but had some preference for either McCain or Obama.

[j_tull]

What (if anything) has been done to prevent the Demonrats from recounting until they win, like last time?

[sionnsar]

(Fred Thompson appears human-sized because he is actually standing a million miles away.)

LOL -- if only he'd run seriously.

[ought-six]

“This one could be another cliffhanger.”

No, it won’t. The Dims will brazenly steal it just as they did in 2004. The SEA-TAC area, which dominates Washington politics, will see to it that the Dims retain the governorship and control of the legislature.

[elizabetty]

Dino Rossi won this election last time and the Dems stole it.

He should really make sure to get out enough voters this time to making it impossible for the Dems to steal it again.

[jazusamo]

Am hoping the Indian gaming fiasco will help Rossi, some Dems were upset over that.

Tribes give big to Gregoire, avoid sharing casino cash

[Zarro]

What (if anything) has been done to prevent the Demonrats from recounting until they win, like last time?

Nothing, really. There have been some token steps to clear duplicate and ineligible voters, but nothing substantive that will put at end to the hijinks from 2004 (duplicate voters, dead people voters, provisional ballots run before validation, people registered to public buildings, non-resident voters, "finding" votes as many times as it took). You know. That stuff.

On the other hand, the voters are likely to be sharpening their pitchforks if it goes that way again. That election period was like living in a banana republic. Never again.

[j_tull]

Thanks for the update. We left Poulsbo in 2003. I don’t think I could have survived the 2004 election. High blood pressure and blatant, unchallenged Dim cheating might have brought on “the BIG one.”

[NavyCanDo]

The Gregoire (Do you know Rossi) ads are about the most annoying 30 seconds on television. This can’t be helping her.

[fuzzthatwuz]

"What (if anything) has been done to prevent the Democats from recounting until they win, like last time?"

There has been talk from the caves thatKing, Pierce, and Snohomish couties have been eliminated from voting. If this tactic does not work, then Gregoire will be re-elected.

[Clint Williams]

I had to laugh at her "I'm tough on sex offenders too" radio ad.

When a politician invokes sex offenders it means (s)he is completely out of ideas, is running on empty, has got nothing nada nichts.

And that was her first ad!