Maybe once Inslee starts actually campaigning, his numbers will go up.

I thought Tim Eyman already appointed himself Governor-for-Life.

Those guest appearances in TV spots with "McGruff the Crime Dog" over the years are sure paying off in name recognition

I still couldn't pick Inslee out of a line up if I had to. But last week didn't one of the writers at The Stranger say that this early on it doesn't matter what Inslee does? Was that Paul by chance?

we're gonna get teabagged!

@4: he looks like Rick Perry & Mitt Romney, but not stupid or a douche. He'll be 10x better than Gregoire, who I think regretted her election the second she won, both times, and governed as such.

The main things going on in the campaign so far seem to be polls and blog posts about polls.

Everyone is paying such close attention to this election that I'm going to get even a single night's sleep between now and fourteen months from now.

The polls are worrying, but not worth panicking over. At this point, they largely represent name recognition and generic political leaning, and little else.

Inslee has to run a good campaign, and has serious work to do to overcome the huge difference in name recognition. But I think McKenna is very beatable. Inslee is a likable guy and a good campaigner. I firmly believe that he can beat McKenna. It won't be easy, but he can do it.

What everyone else said about name recognition (how many folks actually know who MCKENNA is? Don't presume). Plus the Internet Echo Chamber has decided this will be a race with nation-wide prominence. If he has to go on the defensive and explain why he had to move in order to get re-elected to Congress, it might hurt Inslee.

I dont think I could handle McKenna in office. It'll be Wisconsin all over again.

What @1 said.

These polls are too early to be meaningful. Inslee hasn't even begun campaigning, and few in King/Pierce/Snohomish counties actually know anything about McKenna. Once people start enduring the barrage of advertising, the ship will right itself.

Note to Inslee: you are planning on campaigning, right?

I had my first introduction to both candidates at the AIDS Walk this weekend. McKenna invoked Elizabeth Taylor in a semi-genuine way; Inslee did a phone-in, Mr. Dummy Goes to Washington shtick. I'll never vote for McKenna, but I totally get why Inslee is trailing.