May 20, 2005
Public Opinion

From the StrategicVision Poll of Washington voters conducted May 15 - 17

1. Regardless of who you voted for in November's gubernatorial election, who do you believe actually won the gubernatorial election, Democrat Christine Gregoire or Republican Dino Rossi?
Christine Gregoire 37%
Dino Rossi 57%
Undecided 6%

5. Regardless of who you voted for in November's gubernatorial election, do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Christine Gregoire?
Favorable 32%
Unfavorable 58%
Undecided 10%

6. Regardless of who you voted for in November's gubernatorial election, do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Dino Rossi?
Favorable 56%
Unfavorable 40%
Undecided 4%

Given that most respondents both (a) think that Rossi legitimately won and (b) appear to wish that he had been inaugurated, I'm intrigued by the other finding that 58% don't want a revote. What that probably means (although respondents weren't asked to express) that they simply want Gregoire removed from office and Rossi inaugurated as soon as possible. But if there is a revote, Rossi would win 54% to 38%.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at May 20, 2005 12:42 PM | Email This
Comments
1. The 58% who don't want a revote just don't want to be bothered any longer. They want the issue to go away and don't want to deal with another election. That's understandable. But a revote won't be decided on by the opinions of the majority--it it were, we would have had a new election back in February!

Posted by: Timothy on May 20, 2005 12:47 PM
2. From Strategic Visions website:

At Strategic Vision Political, we craft winning results for our clients.


Now that sounds bipartison ...

Posted by: Doc on May 20, 2005 12:58 PM
3. David Johnson (CEO I think) of strategic vision, LLC will be speaking at WWU 6pm may 23rd if anyone's interested

Posted by: Joel on May 20, 2005 01:06 PM
4. I'm with Timothy on this one. While I hate to be a "nay-sayer" (read: disappointment), I would argue that the people just want to put this whole fiasco behind them.

However, I would also be interested to see people's reaction to a poll question more along the lines of what you suggested. Perhaps these would be of some value:

If the election is thrown out, how do you think the situation should be handled?

If the election is thrown out, who would you support as a candidate in a "revote"?

JMHO

Posted by: Patrick E. Bell on May 20, 2005 01:08 PM
5. I think Timothy's right. Most people can hardly be bothered to vote every four years, let alone an extra election. But once it's decided there will be a revote, I think they'd go ahead and vote.

Posted by: Shannon K on May 20, 2005 01:09 PM
6. From the Strategic Visions website:

"Below are the results of a three-day poll of registered voters in the state of Washington. Results are based on telephone interviews with 800 registered voters in Washington, aged 18+, and conducted May 15-17, 2005. The margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points."

The results are not surprising at all because as the text says the poll was conducted via phone--(clearly the homeless didn't participate)--and registered voters were questioned--(clearly more than registered voters voted in November). Also the poll provides what Dean Logan cannot and that is the statistical margin of error before ascribing any findings of winning answers.

Perhaps Strategic Visions should be contracted to conduct the next statewide poll/election.

Posted by: Elvis is the King County on May 20, 2005 01:14 PM
7. I dunno,
After “enhancing” 50,000 or so ballots, King County might get her over the 40% mark.

Posted by: Brad on May 20, 2005 01:18 PM
8. "Perhaps Strategic Visions should be contracted to conduct the next statewide poll/election."

The certainly seem to be hired guns. The site makes no mention of what counties were polled. I guarantee they did not give King County its proper weight. But, hey, if it makes you all feel better then it was well worth the money.

Posted by: Doc on May 20, 2005 01:22 PM
9. With Gregoire's turnabout on No Taxes, supporting spending that once again undermines I-601 and of course her uttering the famous statement that will be replayed over & over & over again if there is a new election:
"This election was a model for the rest of the nation and the world at large".
---Christine Gregoire, Former Illegitimate Governor of the State of Washington

I can't wait for someone to introduce her as:
"The former Illegitimate Governor" Gregoire.
That has a nice, respectful and 100% ACCURATE ring to it, doesn't it??

Posted by: Mr. Cynical on May 20, 2005 01:25 PM
10. The important thing about this poll is that prior to democratization of the means of dissemination of information this would all be a moot point. The msm would have reported that Ron Sims declared that KC election returns have an accuracy rate any bank.... yada yada yade....bla bla bla blaq.... and there would have been absolutely nothing representative of what actually was the case and the whole thing would have 'went away.' Sucks to be KC Democratics when the light of truth is pointed in your eyes!! and I am ROTFLMAO about it. Although I am p*ssed about what transpired and how it is we got here to see them in the predicament they are in is one of life's precious moments.

Posted by: JDH on May 20, 2005 01:25 PM
11. Mantra: Don't like the results, rewrite the law until the results resemble the goal.

Dogma: Disagree? You are a threat to liberty.

Voting: Works better for American Idol than Representative Democracy

Posted by: Snarky Mover on May 20, 2005 01:26 PM
12. Doc, you gotta admit though, the poll is more accurate then the election.

Posted by: Mark Beyer on May 20, 2005 01:32 PM
13. I think that you overstepped on your predicted outcome of a revote. Democrats generally don't like their own, because generally they don't like ANYBODY. But, they still vote for the devil they know instead of the one they know won't give them a hand out.

So, it's anybody's guess who would win an actual election.

Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 20, 2005 01:41 PM
14. Mantra: "Count every vote, count every vote, count every vote, count every vote!!!!"(preferrably shouted by as many redolent treehuggers, latte drinking socialist apparatchiks, loud feminists and union thugs as you can round up).

Then, once your candidate is declared "elected", it becomes:

"Hide every vote, hide every vote, hide every vote, hide every vote!!!!"

Dogma: Just have the P-I explain it all away as "eh, nobody is perfect. We'll miss a few votes here and there."

Voting: Works better in former Communist countries than it does in a state named after one of the Founding Fathers of the first Democratic country (unless the King County Council votes to rename the state after Booker T. Washington)

Can anyone tell me there wouldn't be riots in the streets a la WTO if this had been the other way around?

Posted by: On the Far Right Side of the State on May 20, 2005 01:41 PM
15. "I would argue that the people just want to put this whole fiasco behind them."
-Patrick E. Bell

Patrick - I agree with this. I believe (as demonstrated by numerous polls and such, Gregoire has not since day one been viewed as legitimately elected...THAT SAID - I think people are becoming more willing to live with her for a term...THAT SAID, we (the State) could put this whole fiasco behind us, but as we have seen thus far, the longer Gregoire acts as Governor, the more fiascos she is creating for this state and the next legitmately elected Governor.

Posted by: flexnfx on May 20, 2005 01:50 PM
16. On the Far Right Side of the State: you said "Can anyone tell me there wouldn't be riots in the streets a la WTO if this had been the other way around?"

I know that there will be riots if this thing doesn't get a fair trial and satisfy the majority of the voters in this state--remember the REVOTE RALLY in Olympia. If the initial ruling is against Krassteen, she'd better step down fast without playing the appeal stalemate game because my neighbors and I will be the first to pitch tents at Olympia as in the Orange revolution. The fathers of this country and soldiers after them fought too hard defending our right to democracy and fair elections to have a few political tyrants hold our system hostage. Riots and protests in support of democracy are perfectly justified.


Posted by: Elvis is the King County on May 20, 2005 02:14 PM
17. Elvis is the King County said: "...because my neighbors and I will be the first to pitch tents at Olympia as in the Orange revolution."

Amen brother. If I were closer to Olympia, I'd be right there with you.

My point about riots was that the Republicans have been courteous, good-mannered and patient through all of this. Particularly the legislators (too much so if you ask me, voting for the hated gas tax).

If CG had been the one that lost by 122 votes, the PETA-philes, ALFies, commies, anarchists, and other assorted scumbags would have already turned over some cars and broken some windows at Westlake Center.

Posted by: On the Far Right Side of the State on May 20, 2005 02:26 PM
18. Reason # 5966 to hate Gregoire:

Remember that she's martialing a bunch of taxpayer dollars to deal with the drought.

Looked out your window today? Drought my ass.

Posted by: Jeff B. on May 20, 2005 02:34 PM
19. Elvis, on the off chance the judiciary overturns a sitting democratically elected Governor l guarantee you unprecedented protest. Gregiore will appeal, appeal, appeal, and if you protest I will pitch my tent next to yours and be in your face. I'm bigger, stronger, and, quite frankly, God loves me. Repugs don't stand a chance in this state against the well oiled, battle tested, left. It'll be like the Heat against the Bullets. Your toast.

When the courts rule in Gregiore's favor and you protest, hell, we'll just stay home and laugh. And laugh. And laugh.

Man, there are some good times ahead.

Cheers,

Doc.

Posted by: Doc on May 20, 2005 02:38 PM
20. Jeff B, droughts around here tend to be caused by lack of snow pack, which, unfortunately, 40 days in a row of rain like this will not help.

Reason #1 to vote against Republicans:

No concept of how the environment works.

Posted by: Doc on May 20, 2005 02:42 PM
21. Strategic Vision is the same people who had posted all those polls that claim that NJ, NY and similar states were close. They're a Republican polling firm with a bad record on accuracy. Not that the Democratic equivilent is any better mind you.

Posted by: Straegic Wrong on May 20, 2005 02:44 PM
22. And while we are at the process of wresting our freedom and democracy from the claws of the democommie Fraudoire we should demand that all the dumbocrapies from Sam Reed down to Ms. Way resign or be fired with prejudice. If we don't the next election to re-elect the rightful governor will be in jeopardy of being manipulated again.

The only other option that I see is to begin organizing the "Asphalt Party" to remove all the democommies that have supported the Fraudoirnor in implementing the gas tax to support the Tyrants of the DOT.

The example for the Asphalt Party is the original Boston Tea Party. Want to join?

Posted by: MikeFedUp on May 20, 2005 02:45 PM
23. Good afternoon everyone


What will really be interesting will be the
republican voter turnout in king county.
They have got to better job of getting people
out to vote.


When you have over 100,000 registered
republicans that didn't vote in each of the
last 2 presdential elections.You have a major
problem on your hands.


What will the king gop leadership do
to fix this?OH and this sparks idea will
not do it.Why do I say this? well because
any idea that is of the belief that its
the voters fault because they have given up
trying.Doesn't really indentify what's
wrong here.

Sure the voters decided not vote.But there
are different reasons for it.what the king
gop leadership must do is determine what these
reasons are. If they don't I'm afraid things
won't getting any better.

Posted by: phil spackman on May 20, 2005 02:51 PM
24. Doc said: "on the off chance the judiciary overturns a sitting democratically elected Governor"

I think you meant to say on the off chance we had a sitting democratically elected Governor. Instead, we have a political appointee courtesy of the well-oiled King County political machine run by Boss Sims.

From what I have seen of the Democrats in this state, God may love you, but he sure isn't on your side. And the closest most of you pinkos have been to battle is fighting for a good parking spot at the SAM. You're a bloody disgrace to anyone who has ever donned this country's uniform.

Posted by: On the Far Right Side of the State on May 20, 2005 02:52 PM
25. Ya know what it would be called if a structural engineer were to certify something to be sound according to Logan and reed's standards? It would be called PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE AND CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE and I think that the 57% or more of the public understands this.

Posted by: JDH on May 20, 2005 02:55 PM
26. Doc,

Per your threats:
"Gregiore will appeal, appeal, appeal, and if you protest I will pitch my tent next to yours and be in your face. I'm bigger, stronger, and, quite frankly, God loves me. Repugs don't stand a chance in this state against the well oiled, battle tested, left. It'll be like the Heat against the Bullets. Your toast."

I don't care if you are bigger and stronger - because I'm smarter than you. The bigger you are, the harder you'll fall.

As for the liberals in this state being 'well oiled, battle tested' - you're making me laugh out loud. You haven't had a challenge in this state in 20 years, and that's why you got sloppy and committed all this fraud and then admitted to it! You're not battle tested, you're lazy and out-of-touch. The real battlegrounds have been in Ohio and Florida and Wisconsin, where the Repubclicans have been making ground and winning. We'll win here too. The Red Tide Cometh.

Posted by: Larry on May 20, 2005 03:02 PM
27. Yep--I think it means they just don't want to go through another election period. Listening to campaign speeches, etc. when they already seem to know who they'd rather have in there.

Posted by: Michele on May 20, 2005 03:05 PM
28. Wazzup "doc"?

In the 20 years (give or take) that I've noticed or gave a damn about the differences between democrats and normal people, I've yet to come across one that could do a decent job of licking the bottom of my boots.

You may be an exception, and I invite you to audition any time you care to.

Molan Labe, mofo!

Posted by: alphabet soup on May 20, 2005 03:10 PM
29. "I don't care if you are bigger and stronger - because I'm smarter than you"

I seriously doubt that. But you are smart enough to know when to laugh.

Posted by: Doc on May 20, 2005 03:32 PM
30. alaphabet soup, better you know yourself first.

Posted by: Doc on May 20, 2005 03:34 PM
31. Anytime, anywhere, anyway.......

Posted by: alphabet soup on May 20, 2005 03:37 PM
32. But you probably better ask your mama first.....

Posted by: alphabet soup on May 20, 2005 03:38 PM
33. Mama said, "Knock you out."

Posted by: Doc on May 20, 2005 03:41 PM
34. If justice prevails and we actually get to ReVote, we will be running to the polls and the mailboxes to vote for the Tax Queen.
What rational Washingtonians really want are more taxes and the arrogant and ethically challenged "just call me Chris" as our leader.
"Tax us some more Chris, baby, we love it." (End of sarcasm)

According to the leftists, we should just mooo-ve on, but if Fraudoire loses, they are going to protest, protest, and protest. So much for mooo-ving on.

Stop the tax madness. It's time to ReElect Rossi.
The Democrats are terrified of a fair election with Fraudoire as their candidate.

Posted by: otto on May 20, 2005 03:45 PM
35. Strategic Vision, LLC is a right-wing organization headquartered out of Georgia with an office in Florida. These two elements alone - biased and out of touch with Washingtonians except by phone - lead me to skepticism.

Because of this initial skepticism, I further question list of people contacted. No information is provided other than "telephone interviews with 800 registered voters in Washington, aged 18+ ..." Where did they get the list? Political affiliations/preferences of the organization that provided the list and the people contacted? How could they confirm that those contacted were registered voters and over the age of 18 other than verbally? Doc also pointed out, above, that there's no mention of the counties where these poll respondents resided.

Stefan has relied on this same Georgia PR company in the past to provide questionable poll results.

Posted by: Al Hedstrom on May 20, 2005 04:25 PM
36. Al Hedstrom: "...biased and out of touch with Washingtonians"

Gosh, for a second Al I thought you were referring to Former Attorney General Gregoire.

Thorny issue issue, those polls, what with verifying if people are registered voters or not. Since you feel so strongly about that, I'm sure you are backing Dino Rossi's case next week.

Glad to have you on board!!

Posted by: On the Far Right Side of the State on May 20, 2005 04:50 PM
37. Doc...you might be bigger but I've got the 2nd ammendment on my side! :)

"We, the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts -- not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution." - Abraham Lincoln

"God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it." - Daniel Webster

"The right of citizens to bear arms is just one guarantee against arbitrary government, one more safeguard against the tyranny which now appears remote in America, but which historically has proved to be always possible." - Senator Hubert H. Humprey (D-Minnesota)

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

Posted by: Elvis is the King County on May 20, 2005 05:21 PM
38. Jeff B:

A drought is not defined by how much water falls as rain in King County, but by snow-pack in the mountains.

The rest of the state, and to lesser degree even Western Washington, depends on that snow to melt slowly between now and july to keep the reservoirs full. This year the snow's already pretty much gone.

Those spiffy lakes on I90 just past Snoqualmie Pass keep half of the irrigated land in Central Washington growing fruit, grapes and other agricultural products that you eat, and through exports via Western Washington harbors and by rail to all over this country, represents a big chunk of this state's economy.

So, yes there is a drought and yes, Rossi would also have made the same call. Its based on snow - not rain!

Posted by: DeadWood on May 20, 2005 05:25 PM
39. Phil Spackman:

There are NO REGISTERED REPUBLICANS in King or any other county in Washington. This state doesn't register voters by party.

I like my independence and hope the state keeps open registration, even if we lose open primaries.

Posted by: DeadWood on May 20, 2005 05:30 PM
40. Nice sentiments Elvis, but they are wasted on a POS like wazzup - it's all snow & no go....

Posted by: alphabet soup on May 20, 2005 05:49 PM
41. If they were honest they would have asked who the respondent voted for in the election. If the results weren't close to 50/50 (give or take a percentage point or so) they would know they had a biased sample.

Posted by: Doug A. on May 20, 2005 07:55 PM
42. Drought has nothing to do with snow. Drought is drought.
Drought: (drout) also drouth (drouth)
n.
A long period of abnormally low rainfall, especially one that adversely affects growing or living conditions.
A prolonged dearth or shortage.

Thursday 0.46 Normal 0.05
This Month 2.67 Normal 1.17
Since 10/1 26.00 Normal 31.53
Since 1/1 15.70 Normal 16.82

So we lost 5 inches. I still have moss growing on everything and I don't water my yard.

Now, am I republican or democrat?



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Middle English, from Old English drgoth;; akin to drge, dry.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
droughty adj.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


drought

n 1: a temporary shortage of rainfall 2: a prolonged shortage


Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University


drought

From the middle of May to about the middle of August the land of Palestine is
dry. It is then the "drought of summer" (Gen. 31:40; Ps. 32:4), and the land
suffers (Deut. 28:23: Ps. 102:4), vegetation being preserved only by the dews
(Hag. 1:11). (See DEW.)


Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Posted by: Shari on May 20, 2005 09:58 PM
43. Strategic Visions should take another poll in about 3 weeks - that would coincide with Judge Bridges decision. 58% don't want a new election ?
I was dubious last week myself, but since the depositions of Ms. Way and Mr. Fell have been brought to light, there has been an uptick in the outcry for a new election. Check out the 710KIRO.com website - they ask that question and earlier in the afternoon it was 52% to 48% in favor of a new election, which indicates a renewed interest.

The former Attorney General is not believed to be the rightful winner any more than 3 months ago, in spite of all of her pap and bluster (for further evidence, see Springtime for Gregoire and Washington's lyrics by Pseudotuga - hilarious !)

Posted by: KS on May 20, 2005 11:09 PM
44. FIRST To Doc and all those venting their spleens at each other: THUGGERY (either by action, threat, or proceedure) is what this is all about. Isn't it in the best interest of all concerned to know who is our elected govenor without serious doubt? Maybe istead of threatening each other about our size, rights or mental capacity we should remember that we all have the same size VOTE! And we all like to know that it counts (just once) for something.
So maybe it's time to try and help this to be fairly heard in court and resolved and if a revote happens try and help it to be clean. The legitimate winner will have like a coat of teflon and be able to LEAD.

Posted by: Victor on May 20, 2005 11:49 PM
45. DOC wrote:


It'll be like the Heat against the Bullets. Your toast.

It is you're, dingus. Remember, you claimed to be smarter than us.

Posted by: JAK on May 20, 2005 11:49 PM
46. "Stefan has relied on this same Georgia PR company in the past to provide questionable poll results."

Well...liberal King 5 News ran a poll tonight showing 58% of those polled in the state believe Rossi actually won the Governors race!
37% believed Gregoire won......

Let's face it.....She wasn't the credible winner of the election and now that she's been in office and reneged on her campaign promises...the majority of the people of the state of Washington want her gone - quickly. 58% wanting Rossi - shows that even those who DID vote for her - now want her gone!

Posted by: Deborah on May 21, 2005 12:33 AM
47. I'm sorry Deborah, but we just can't accept the poll done by King 5 News because it was done by "Survey USA", and everybody knows that the brother of the guy who works in the mailroom at Survey USA was seen talking to the sister of Dino Rossi's cousin....

(How could they possibly be impartial ;'}

Posted by: alphabet soup on May 21, 2005 07:15 AM
48. deadwood
How many times in the past have they flushed the reservoirs then suddenly they have a drought on their hands. While it may not be the sole contributor, poor water management is a major contributor. And, it is impossible to miss poor water management when we have record rainfalls and yet you drive by a reservoir and its empty.

Posted by: Mark Beyer on May 21, 2005 08:19 AM
49. Regardless of how drought is defined in dictionaries, in this state when it is declared, the declaration is based on how much water is stored as snow pack in the mountains. If it is less than 75% of the average, a drought is declared.

The reason for this is simple. Your faucet and farmers fields are tied by pipes to reservoirs that store water in the mountains. These reservoirs get their water during the peak use months (believe it nor not people actaully use more water in the summer than in the winter) from melting snow in the Cascades.

The problem with rain is that we don't have enough storage (dams) to capture enough to see us through the dry months (July to September). We are dependent on the snow to melt and slowly release water during the summer to keep the existing reservoirs full.

So even though we seem to have plenty of rain this spring in Western Washington, we will have a shortage later this summer. Whether the shortage will lead to lawn water bans will depend on how much rain falls over the summer.

The problem is huge in Central and Eastern Washington. They don't get much rain to begin with, even when we get a lot here. SO snow melt is pretty much their only source of water.

Posted by: DeadWood on May 21, 2005 09:42 AM
50. Mark:

I can't anser that question. What I do know is that Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett flush water out of their dams to create flows that mimic storm evens. This is what is referred to as "Normative FLows" by the fish folks.

The reason for this practice is that the Feds required this when they renewed their hydro power licenses. While I think this is good idea in most years, I wonder about how smart this will be in excessivly dry summers or when there is little to no snow pack like this year.

Posted by: Deadwood on May 21, 2005 09:47 AM
51. Deadwood - My departure from your stance is on two points:

1. The only "draught emergencies" that I can recall occurring in Western Washington happened after a draw-down in the reservoirs had taken place earlier the same spring. I remember think at the time of one of those draw downs, "Damn! They're going too far!" Even at that, we are reliant (solely dependent) on the official line as to just exactly how close to "running dry" we actually were (and yes, I can remember the video of the Tolt Reservoir revealing the stumps that are normally underwater).

So I might not dispute what constitutes an "emergency" , but would argue whether we have ever risen to that mark (and if so, was it through mismanagement).

2. "So, yes there is a drought and yes, Rossi would also have made the same call." I don't think so. The issue revolves around situations and how one deals with them. Fraudoire panicked and over reacted. Go back and take a look at her press announcement and tell me you can't see the "deer in the headlights" look about her.

Based on everything I have seen of Dino Rossi, I seriously doubt that he would have allowed himself to be painted into a corner this way. Sure, I could see him remarking about the event (low snow pack) and urging conservation, but not the silly "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" that we saw with CG.

Posted by: alphabet soup on May 21, 2005 10:09 AM
52. alphabet:

The situation in Eastern Washington is much worse than here. With water now stored they will be able to irrigation for less than half the season. Rossi would certiainly have issued a drought declaration, even though in hindsight it is less clear there will be a problem in Western Washington.

This year it WAS called early and perhaps would not have been called for Western Washington if the former AG had waited until later, but the economy of Central Washington is going to get trashed this year over irrigation shortages.

Posted by: Deadwood on May 21, 2005 03:23 PM
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