State Sen. Ed Murray (D-43, Capitol Hill)
PubliCola has been told that the poll about state Sen. Ed Murray’s (D-43) prospects as a write-in mayoral candidate was done by the California and Seattle-based polling firm EMC, but EMC’s Andrew Thibault would not confirm that, saying only: "We are aware of the poll."
Mayor Greg Nickels came in third place in last week’s primary election and conceded last Friday ; his opponents Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn will go through to the general in November.
Murray’s regular political consultant Christian Sinderman said that Murray "isn’t going to enter into anything lightly" and is talking to his advisers and allies today to weigh the idea. He says he told Murray: "My advice is, winning a write-in campaign is rare. You don’t put your name in just because some friends put your name on a poll."
However, Sinderman—Seattle’s premier political guru—said a Murray candidacy is the first write-in idea he’s ever heard of that "isn’t farcical." He said the idea "has merit and deserves a discussion."
Murray has not returned our most recent call.
Labor and business groups evidently paid for the poll.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21—one of Nickels’ biggest backers—would not take credit for the poll and referred us to the Service Employees International Union 775. "I’d start there," UFCW lobbyist Sarah Cherin told us.
SEIU president David Rolf would not say if SEIU paid for the poll. Rolf did say that if Murray entered the race he "would be a very serious candidate" because of his "legislative experience."
Rolf, whose powerful health care workers’ union backed Nickels in the primary, said they’re currently evaluating neighborhood activist and environmentalist McGinn and T-Mobile executive Mallahan. "And we would certainly evaluate Murray if he entered the race."
Rolf said he met with McGinn informally for coffee today. McGinn requested the meeting on Friday. Rolf said it was the first time he’d met McGinn and called it "a positive meeting. He’s a smart, nice guy."
Rolf says Mallahan met with SEIU a month before the election and at that time was told SEIU was backing Nickels.
If Murray enters, he’ll get the political establishment vote, McGinn will get the lefty and green vote, and Mallahan will get the throw-the-bums-out vote. (All three will duke it out over the Catholic vote.)
