SeattlePI.com has the scoop:

A poll taken to gauge Ed Murray's viability as a write-in candidate for Seattle mayor shows the state senator finishing in second place, behind Joe Mallahn and ahead of Michael McGinn. (Eds. note - updates from earlier which showed Murray finishing third.)

But when people are reminded who Murray is, a long-time lawmaker, he finished first, Murray said Thursday.

Murray, who said he was encouraged by the survey's results, said he'd decide next week whether to seek the city's top job against environmentalistMcGinn and businessman Mallahan. He said the poll results showed that up to 70 percent of voters would consider a write-in candidacy.

"That shows softness all over the place," said Murray, a Democrat who represents Seattle's 43rd legislative district.

PubliCola confirmed the news: Murray comes in second in a tight three-way race, with Mallahan in first, and Murray comes in first after folks get a little positive spin on Murray. (The results "move around depending on the question," Murray says, "but I certainly could be in the game.")

The poll does not, however, test the write-in concept, and Murray—who says he still hasn't made up his mind—acknowldeges "it is not a clear path [to winning] and polling on write ins is really difficult."