Poll reveals Inslee, McKenna in dead heat
Oct 22, 2012, 10:10 AM | Updated: 1:26 pm
A new statewide poll has Democrat Jay Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna in a dead heat in the race for governor.
The results show 46 percent support for both Inslee and McKenna as of last week when ballots were being mailed out.
Inslee was faring better among women, while McKenna was getting the support of 19 percent of people who voted for President Barack Obama in 2008.
The poll of 500 likely voters was conducted by consulting firm Strategies 360. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
The same survey shows strong support for charter schools (51-34), gay marriage (55-34), and legalizing marijuana (54-38).
Kevin Ingham, vice president of polling and research at Strategies 360, said ballot measures typically lose some of their “yes” votes as Election Day approaches, and he suspects that people who say they are undecided on the gay marriage issue are likely to oppose it.
A similar poll, also by Strategies 360, last May gave McKenna a four point lead. Compared to that survey, voters were more likely to conclude that the country and the state are moving in the right direction.
Associated Press Writer Mike Baker contributed to this story.