Another day, another set of bad poll numbers for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell. This time, it's the Republican firm Strategic Vision that has been polling every month in Washington for over a year. It shows the race between Cantwell and GOP challenger and former Safeco CEO Mike McGavick as a virtual dead heat, with the incumbent receiving 47 percent support while the challenger has 43 percent, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent. The poll is credible because it also shows dismal approval numbers for President George W. Bush, 33 percent, and his handling of the war in Iraq, 31 percent. Since Cantwell is clearly not going to change course on her support for the criminal invasion of Iraq, what will she do to try to turn her numbers around?

Clearly she hoped that the energy issues she has devoted so much time to—opposing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, pushing alternative fuels, and helping with the Snohomish County Public Utility District's battle against Enron—would be significant to Washington's voters. So far, no good. In the last election, it seemed like Cantwell's mother was more popular than the senator. Maybe it's time for Cantwell and her mom to tour the state, hearing what concerns Washingtonians these days.