Barack Obama

The latest poll from Portland's Moore Information shows Gov. Chris Gregoire and her Republican challenger Dino Rossi even with 45 percent apiece. The survey was conducted on July 9-10 and sampled 400 registered voters.

Polls have been relatively close throughout the entire campaign, but this is Rossi's best showing since the winter months. The margin of error was +/- 5 percent, and 9 percent said they were undecided.

UPDATE: The P-I is reporting, and the Democrats are insisting, that the poll was paid for by Rossi. Rossi used Moore in 2004, as well, per Mulick.

Telecom immunity. Public financing. Faith-based initiatives. NAFTA. Just words?

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama: Getty Images PhotoPresumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) leads Republican Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the latest Washington state presidential poll with 47 percent of the vote to McCain's 39, the Seattle P-I is reporting.

The poll, taken by the consulting firm Strategies 360, surveyed a relatively large sample of 1200 voters on June 26. In addition to the head-to-head, it also found favorability ratings of the two major party candidates. 54 percent of respondents reacted favorably to Obama compared to 37 percent negatively, while McCain had a 44 percent favorable and 46 percent unfavorable rating.

The margin of error for the poll was 2.75 percent.

The weekend is over and, despite the summery Monday weather, it is time to get back to work.

The same goes for Gov. Chris Gregoire who is participating in the Service Employees International Union's (SEIU) "walk a day in my shoes" program today, where candidates and elected officials follow a union worker for a day on their job.

Every election year, professional speculators say that young people will vote this time. Every year they don’t. Capturing the youth vote has become the quixotic dream of all politicians.

Michelle Obama: Getty ImagesPotential future first lady Michelle Obama, the wife of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, is coming to Seattle this summer to host a fundraiser for Gov. Chris Gregoire. The event will take place at the WaMu Theater at Qwest Field in Seattle July 17, 2008 at noon.

"When Barack Obama is elected president, our state will have a partner in the White House - a leader who will support our fight to provide children healthcare, take on climate change and help working families," Gregoire said in a press release about the event.

Veteran political operative Floyd Brown made his name in 1988 by helping to create the infamous "Willie Horton" piece that dogged Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis with distorted facts and race-baiting tactics. Twenty years later, living in University Place, he hopes to make just as strong an impact.

The New York Times has an article on Mr. Brown from Saturday discussing his current operation.  Brown presides over two PACs, the National Campaign Fund and the Legacy Committee, and a 527 group called Citizens for a Safe and Prosperous America. Through those he hopes to create an ad that moves voters beyond what he calls the "tipping point" of a successful political attack ad.

There is much speculation about down-ballot voting and how it will wash. But what is the effect on down-ballot races when the presidential race itself isn't at the top?