Senator Maria Cantwell (D) from Washington has been on the defensive lately. She has antagonized some of the political left with her stand on Iraq and her vote on the Alito nomination. The state's Democratic Party Chairman raised doubts about her campaign last week and her GOP opponent ran an early ad blitz.

Add it all together and Cantwell's support has fallen for the fourth consecutive month and the fifth time in the last six months. The incumbent began the new year with a fifteen percentage point lead over challenger Mike McGavick (R). Now, that lead has fallen to a mere five percentage points, 46% to 41%.

A month ago, Cantwell led 48% to 40%.

Twenty-five percent (25%) of the state's voters have a "very favorable" opinion of Cantwell, while 21% hold a "very unfavorable" opinion of their Senator.

For McGavick, the former Safeco CEO, the numbers are 17% "very favorable" and 16% "very unfavorable."

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Cantwell, who narrowly won her job six years ago, may need to rely on her state's Democratic leanings to stay in the Senate. A plurality or majority of Washington voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on five key issues we asked about in the survey--economic policy, national security, immigration, energy policy, and the War in Iraq.

President Bush is held in low regard on these issues as well. Just 21% give him good or excellent marks on immigration. Only 26% offer positive assessments of his energy policy.

The rolling average of the last three Rasmussen Reports election polls in Washington confirms the tightening of the race. It shows Cantwell with a 48% to 39% lead. That's the first time her lead has dipped into single digits in the three poll rolling average.

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