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Washington Prepares For Possibility Of Recount In Senate Race

Reut Cohen |
November 2, 2010 | 9:19 a.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

Democratic incumbent Patty Murray has found herself in a tight race.

Murray, the fourth highest-ranking Democrat in the U.S. Senate and three-time senator, raised $15,313,579 and spent $14,844,250, more than double than that of her opponent. President Barack Obama and first Lady Michelle Obama visited Seattle separately last month, hoping to widen the gap between Murray and Dino Rossi, the Republican hopeful.

Yet despite these efforts, Washington’s Senate Race is among the closest in the country and the state is prepared for a recount.

Last week’s polls indicated that Rossi was gaining momentum in the race. Unlike previous polls that put Murray at an advantage, Washington’s Senate race is projected to be a toss-up in the polls—at least as of Tuesday night.

A Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of 750 likely voters conducted last Wednesday had Dino Rossi, the Republican hopeful, picking up 48 percent of votes. Murray gathered 47 percent in the poll. Two percent of voters were still undecided and three percent said they preferred a different candidate.

In a Survey USA poll conducted last week, sponsored by Seattle’s KING-TV, the candidates numbers were tied.

The candidates attack ads have been fierce. Murray argues her opponent is "too conservative" on issues like abortion and claims his policies will send American jobs overseas.

Rossi claims his opponent is “fiscally irresponsible,” arguing the career politician went to D.C. with good intentions but “changed” in the process.

On Monday Murray spoke at union rally in Everett, Seattle across from a Boeing plant. According to Politico.com, the senator mentioned former President George W. Bush three times, lamenting his economic policies which she argues Republican hopefuls want to reinstate. "It breaks my heart because of the Bush economic policies," she said. 

During his closing event on Monday, Republican candidate Dino Rossi attacked his opponent’s record.

Washington and Rossi are no strangers to recounts. In 2004, Washington gained national attention when Rossi lost the gubernatorial election by a margin of 129 votes. In the first automated count and the subsequent recount, Rossi was declared the winner. In the third count, conducted by hand, Christine Gregoire, a Democrat, was declared the winner by a slim number of votes.



 

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