The new Elway Poll says Sen. Patty Murray in June received the highest performance ratings of her career, as measured by the survey. Of voters surveyed statewide June 25-28, 53 percent rated her job performance as excellent or good. Thirty-four percent rated it fair or poor.

Still, only 44 percent of voters surveyed said they support her re-election next year, while 33 percent said she should be replaced. That's not surprising, pollster Stuart Elway writes, considering that voters likely are waiting to see who might enter the race:

"At the same stage in her last race (May '03) Murray lead the generic "someone else" by just 5 points (43-38%). When George Nethercutt was named as the opponent later in the same survey, Murray's advantaged jumped to 21 points (49-28%). She went on the win with 55% of the vote."

In May 2003, 44 percent of voters surveyed by Elway said Murray was doing an excellent or good job, while 47 percent rated her performance as fair or poor.

Elway first asked about Murray's job performance in 1993.