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Seattle, WA, United States (AHN) – Sen. Patti Murray has a narrow lead against Republican Dino Rossi in the Senate race in the Evergreen state, according to a poll released Monday.

The Democrat is ahead 50 percent to 42 percent, according to a University of Washington poll. Eight percent of voters who support Murray said they could change their mind or were essentially undecided and were “leaning” toward the senator, while 9 percent said the same of Rossi.

A poll last week from SurveyUSA had the candidates tied, with Murray leading by 3 statistically insignificant points. The pollster, however, had said, “There is unique and in some ways unprecedented disagreement among pollsters as to where this contest stands… The New York Times describes Washington state as the Bermuda Triangle of polling.”

Variations in poll results notwithstanding, Murray is one of several Democratic incumbents who are considered highly vulnerable this election year.

The state’s first woman senator and the fifth highest ranking senator as secretary of the Democratic conference, she is seeking a fourth term. She is up against a former state senator who ran for governor in 2004 and 2008.

Rossi, a real estate executive who has called for repealing the administration’s healthcare legislation, raised $4.4 million worth of campaign contributions in the third quarter, leading Murray, who reported receiving only $3.3 million.

Democrats are pushing hard to defend their majority in Congress this mid-term dominated by public anger with Washington and continuing worries about the economy.

The importance of Murray’s re-election is highlighted by the fact that former President Bill Clinton campaigned for the senator on Monday and Vice President Joe Biden holds a rally on Tuesday. President Barack Obama holds a fundraiser in Seattle on Thursday. Next week, First Lady Michelle Obama holds a grassroots luncheon with Murray in Bellevue.

The race is rated a tossup by the Cook Political Report.

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