KCTS 9 voters poll shows Inslee, McKenna in dead heat for governor

With 20 days to go until the Nov. 6 election, the first results of the KCTS 9 Washington poll indicate that the candidates for Washington State governor are in a dead heat with Jay Inslee at 47.9 percent and Rob McKenna at 44.7 percent.

Polling for the KCTS 9 Washington Poll was conducted between Oct. 1-16, according to a KCTS 9 media release. The poll sampled 782 registered voters and has a 3.5 percent plus or minus margin of error.

Voters are leaning toward approving Referendum 74 (same sex marriage) and Initiative 502 (legalizing marijuana). Incumbent U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell has a comfortable lead (58.3 percent) over her opponent Michael Baumgartner (34.8 percent), and President Obama is leading at 51.8 percent to Mitt Romney’s 41.3 percent.

The KCTS 9 Washington Poll is a comprehensive, scientific poll covering the major races and issues on the November ballot, including President of the United States, Washington’s Governor’s and U.S. Senate races, Initiative 502 (legalizing marijuana), Initiative 1185 (tax increases), Initiative 1240 (charter schools), and Referendum 74 (same-sex marriage).

KCTS 9 Washington Poll Highlights

U.S. President

Barack Obama (D)          51.8%

Mitt Romney (R)              41.3%

Gary Johnson (L)              1.3%

Jill Stein (G)                0.3%

Other                         1.4%

Undecided                     3.9%

Washington Governor

Jay Inslee (D)                 47.9%

Rob McKenna (R)                44.7%

Undecided                       7.4%

U.S. Senate – Washington

Maria Cantwell (D)              58.3%

Michael Baumgartner (R)      34.8%

Undecided                        6.9%

Referendum 74 – Marriage Equality

Yes                                  56.3%

No                                   35.6%

Undecided                            6.1%

Initiative 502 – Legalizing and Regulating Marijuana

Yes                                  50.9%

No                                   40.8%

Undecided                             8.3%

Initiative 1185 – 2/3 Majority to Raise Taxes

Yes                                  53.6%

No                                   31.2%

Undecided                            15.2%

Initiative 1240 – Charter Schools

Yes                                  47.5%

No                                   39.2%

Undecided                            13.3%

For complete KCTS 9 Washington Poll results including information about the issues that are important to Washington state voters, results about how voters feel about the Legislature and U.S. Congress, whether voters support a state tax on the wealthy, and whether people think things here in Washington state are going in the right direction, visit www.washingtonpoll.org or KCTS9.org/vote2012.