Strategies 360 released the results of a survey today that, like other recent polls, shows state senator Ed Murray with a robust lead and a majority of voters backing him, placing incumbent mayor Mike McGinn outside of conventional striking distance. In the survey of 400 likely voters, Murray holds a 17-point advantage with backing from 51 percent of the general electorate. McGinn has 34 percent (the remaining respondents didn't answer or were undecided). Of note: Actual human beings conducted this poll, not robots making auto-dials.

A well-written polling memo by Strategies 360's Paul Queary provides a sketch of their findings:

Murray led McGinn 51-34 despite respondents’ positive view of the city’s economy; 73 percent of those surveyed said the economy of Seattle was in good shape. However, only 48 percent said things in the city are generally moving in the right direction, while 46 percent had mixed opinions or said the city was on the wrong track.

The starkest difference between the two candidates was in their favorability ratings. Just 12 percent of respondents view Murray unfavorably, while McGinn was viewed unfavorably by 42 percent. By contrast, 60 percent had a favorable impression of Murray compared with 47 percent for McGinn. ...

More than twice as many respondents said Murray would better show leadership on issues important to them. They echoed that response when asked specifically about who would do better on the economy and jobs, public safety and police issues, and maintaining and improving the city’s roads, tunnels and bridges.

Voters said McGinn would do a better job on public transportation, bicycling and pedestrian issues, and on environmental and climate change issues. McGinn and Murray were running roughly even among voters between 18 and 44, but Murray enjoyed a substantial lead among older voters.

The toplines of the poll are also good reading—for nerds—and shows some of what you'd expect. Voters think that bike-hugging McGinn would be stronger on public transportation (55 percent) while they think Murray, who's backed the most expensive freeway budgets in state history, would do a better job building bridges and tunnels (44 percent). Here are the crosstabs.