A SurveyUSA poll commissioned by KING-TV has some interesting numbers about several of the state-wide initiatives on the November ballot:
Yes | No | Undecided | ||
I-912 | 52% | 41% | 7% | |
I-901 | 67% | 32% | 1% | |
I-900 | 45% | 48% | 6% |
I-912 would repeal the state transportation improvement package, I-901 would ban smoking in public buildings and vehicles, and I-900 is Tim Eyman’s superfluous performance audits initiative. Of course, everybody expects I-901 to pass by a large margin, but I was pleasantly surprised by the relative weakness of both I-912 and I-900.
That I-912 is only polling at 52% just 7 weeks out from the election proves that this incredibly short-sighted initiative is beatable, and should encourage opponents to spend whatever is necessary to defeat it. Anybody who still thinks I-912 is a sure thing, is kidding themselves. Voters may not like higher taxes, but the more they understand what they’ll lose by passing the initiative, the less attractive it looks.
As for the over-reaching I-900, it looks like Eyman’s comeback initiative may fall short after all… a particularly amusing prospect considering it’s drawn no organized opposition. I think it is quite possible that the reference to the sales tax in the ballot title might actually confuse voters into thinking this is a tax increase… thus hoisting Timmy on his own anti-tax petard. I’d say the closeness of this poll would portend an election night drama… that is, if anybody actually cared about I-900 besides me and Timmy.
In any case, I’m liking these numbers.