As we head into the first debate between Democratic incumbent Gov. Chris Gregoire and Republican former state Sen. Dino Rossi, the GOP challenger has led in three of four polls released this month, he has flooded the airwaves with ads that seem to be working, and the governor is confronting a likely $3.2 billion deficit for the coming biennium, which Rossi says is due to her policies. True or not, the governor is facing some heat on the campaign trail.
With all this in mind, the Crosscut Guvometer gives Rossi a two-point edge in its inaugural appearance.
The debate will be in Seattle on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 9 p.m. and can be seen on KOMO-TV (4) in Seattle, KXLY-TV (4) in Spokane, KEPR-TV (19) in the Tri-Cities, KIMA-TV (29) in Yakima, and KATU-TV (2) in Portland. We'll update the Guvometer afterward.
The Crosscut Guvometer is a sensitive instrument. While polling results can move the needle, the device also responds to all sorts of developments in the election campaign, including local and national news and fundraising. We'll let you know as the reading changes in coming weeks.
