Poll Update: Murray Continues to Gain Momentum While Nethercutt Continues to Slide

Recent polling shows that Sen. Patty Murray (D) continues to lead her opponent in this year's Senate race by wide margins.

In a poll conducted by pollster Mark Mellman, a highly regarded pollster in Washington state politics, Murray trounced Rep. George Nethercutt (R) by 20 points:

Murray 52%
Nethercutt 32%

Despite months of campaigning, Nethercutt continues to fall behind Murray with Washington voters. A Republican poll conducted in May 2003 is consistent with this more recent polling and showed Nethercutt trailing Murray by double digits, 52% to 37% (conducted by the Tarrance Group, 5/5-6/03; surveyed 504 likely voters; margin of error /- 4.5%).

The Mellman Group poll shows Murray ahead in the vote-rich Seattle area but also even in Spokane, Nethercutt's home base.