2012 Election
McKenna Undaunted by Obama's Popularity Here
KING 5 released a poll yesterday showing President Obama with a stunning 16 point lead over Mitt Romney in Washington State.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee, who's heading into the general election after a surprise 47 to 42 primary win over popular Republican Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna, has been counting on an Obama bounce in the general.
With such great numbers for Obama, is Inslee sitting pretty? (A brand new Survey USA poll has Inslee up 49-44.)
We asked the McKenna campaign if the Obama numbers were creating a perfect storm for Inlsee.
No, sir, they said.
Here's McKenna campaign spokesman Charles McCray:
"Rob was the only candidate four years ago to outperform President Obama statewide; proof of the fact that Washington voters split their tickets frequently." (True.)
And yesterday, the McKenna camp pointed out that McKenna is actually more in synch with President Obama than Inslee on the front-and-center issue of education. Indeed, the new Survey USA poll says voters think McKenna is better on education—a startling finding in a state where Democrats have long held the advantage on the issue. The numbers are tight, 39 to 38, but McKenna has the slight advantage. And it's an exact reversal of earlier polling.
McKenna won his 2008 attorney general's race 59.46 to 40.54 over Democrat John Ladenburg.
President Obama won Washington State over Republican John McCain, 57.65 to 40.48.
Perhaps the most relevant number, though: Democratic Governor Chris Gregoire beat Republican challenger Dino Rossi that year 53.24 to 46.76. (She won in 2004—48.87 to 48.86.)
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee, who's heading into the general election after a surprise 47 to 42 primary win over popular Republican Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna, has been counting on an Obama bounce in the general.
With such great numbers for Obama, is Inslee sitting pretty? (A brand new Survey USA poll has Inslee up 49-44.)
We asked the McKenna campaign if the Obama numbers were creating a perfect storm for Inlsee.
No, sir, they said.
Here's McKenna campaign spokesman Charles McCray:
"Rob was the only candidate four years ago to outperform President Obama statewide; proof of the fact that Washington voters split their tickets frequently." (True.)
And yesterday, the McKenna camp pointed out that McKenna is actually more in synch with President Obama than Inslee on the front-and-center issue of education. Indeed, the new Survey USA poll says voters think McKenna is better on education—a startling finding in a state where Democrats have long held the advantage on the issue. The numbers are tight, 39 to 38, but McKenna has the slight advantage. And it's an exact reversal of earlier polling.
McKenna won his 2008 attorney general's race 59.46 to 40.54 over Democrat John Ladenburg.
President Obama won Washington State over Republican John McCain, 57.65 to 40.48.
Perhaps the most relevant number, though: Democratic Governor Chris Gregoire beat Republican challenger Dino Rossi that year 53.24 to 46.76. (She won in 2004—48.87 to 48.86.)
