As the latest Rasmussen Poll shows a dead heat in Washington's gubernatorial rematch, another survey puts incumbent Gov. Christine Gregoire 9 points ahead of Republican challenger Dino Rossi.

The survey, by Portland pollster Lisa Grove, shows Gregoire up by a 49-40 margin. The Democratic incumbent enjoys strong support from 38 percent of the electorage to 32 percent for Rossi. "Leaners" total 11 percent for Gregoire and 8 percent for Rossi. A total of 11 percent are genuinely undecided.

The survey was taken in late January for Pierce County Executive John Ladenberg, who is revving up to run against incumbent GOP Attorney General Rob McKenna.

The poll is interesting on a trio of counts. A survey done by Grove late last year, with Washington Conservation Voters as client, had Gregoire up by only a 43-41 margin. The wider 9-point lead mirrors findings of the independent Washington Poll.

The Washington Poll, conducted Feb. 7-18, had Gregoire up by 53.7 to 42.1 for Rossi -- after showing the Democratic incumbent leading on by 46-42 in a survey taken in late October.

One more salient fact: While crunching numbers for other clients, Grove is the Gregoire campaign's pollster and has been paid in the six figures to sample the state's political pulse. The governor's political advisers are keeping their own numbers to themselves.
What to make of this?

A poll is a snapshot in time. It can come at a good time for an incumbent, e.g. with Gregoire speeding aid to Lewis County flood victims, or state government basking in an A-minus rating from the Pew Center on the States.

Or the public pulse can be taken after jolting news, such as the prediction of a $2.3 billion deficit in the next biennium.

An informal, unscientific reading from one longtime Snohomish County coffee group, home to several "Dinocrats" in 2004: It's still a tight race. Gregoire has yet to win over the Rossi supporters. Rossi will have to work to keep their support. As with the presidential race, this one will go on for eight months.