A new SurveyUSA poll has Republican Dino Rossi trailing incumbent Patty Murray by two points, 48 percent to 50 percent. This is a stronger showing from Rossi than is being reflected in other recent polls, but compared to an identical SurveyUSA poll from one month ago, Murray is up 5 points and Rossi is down 4, echoing the latest forecasts suggesting Murray is pulling away:
Murray has cut into Rossi’s leads among men, voters under age 50, and independents, and has increased existing leads among women and older voters. In Metro Seattle, which includes Snohomish, Pierce and King counties, the 2 candidates were tied 1 month ago; today, Murray leads by 7 points. In the rest of Western Washington, Rossi had led, now doesn’t. In Eastern Washington, Rossi had led big, now leads small.
Rossi still leads among independents — 54 percent to 41 percent — but conservatives in Washington state have thus far not managed to achieve the enthusiasm gap being seen in most parts of the country.