Can the GOP finally close a race in WA state?

[smoltchanov]

It seems like the last time the GOP actually won a statewide race for anything in WA was the Gorton win in '94, which turned out to be one of the more competitive races in a very red year.

Since then, the story is the same every time.  The GOP is ahead every time and then the democrats come home and they lose.  The story is clearly playing out the same way so far in 2012.

The Secretary of State and Attorney General in Washington (both elected) are both currently Republicans.  In fact, the Attorney General, Rob McKenna, is one of the GOP frontrunners for Governor.  Based on the general election polls I've seen, it looks increasingly likely that Washington will elect a GOPer as Governor for the first time since 1980.

Most polls i am aware of predict an extremely close 50-50 race.