Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

Bragging rights go to Washington Poll

OLYMPIA -- Remember all those polls in the U.S. Senate race that were all over the place in the last week of the election?

Democrat Patty Murray was up by 4. No, Republican Dino Rossi was up by 3. No, they're tied.

Turns out the most accurate poll in the race, according to Matt Barreto of the Washington Poll was...

The Washington Poll.

Barreto compared 11 polls released within a week of the election in the Murray-Rossi race, which right now is separated by about 4.42 percentage points.

The WashPoll of Registered Voters, released Oct. 28, had Murray up 4 points.

Depending on the remaining ballots, YouGov might lay claim on the best call. It's Oct. 30 poll of registered voters had Murray up 5 points, and her margin might grow because so many of the remaining ballots are from King County.

Other comparisons can be found inside the blog.


YouGov's Oct. 30 likely voter poll had Murray by 3 points
Marist Oct. 28 registered voter poll had Murray by 3 points
WashPoll Oct. 28 likely voter poll had Murray by 6 points
Fox News Oct. 28 likely voter poll had Murray by 2 points
Marist Oct. 28 likely voter poll  had Murray by 1 point
Survey USA Oct. 27 likely voter poll had them tied
Rasmussen Oct. 27 likely voter poll had Rossi by 1 point
PPP Oct. 31 likely voter poll had Rossi by 2 points.

Not included in the listing was the Elway Poll, which The Spokesman-Review and the Seattle Times commissioned in September that had it 50-41 Murray or a mid October Elway Poll, that had it 51-38 Murray.



The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.