In an election for US House of Representatives from Washington’s 8th Congressional District today, thirteen days till votes are counted, momentum, at least in part attributable to a rising Democratic tide nationwide, is now with Democrat Darcy Burner, who see-saws ahead of Republican Dave Reichert, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for KING-TV in Seattle. Nominally, it’s Burner 50%, Reichert 46% today. Compared to a SurveyUSA poll 6 weeks ago, Reichert is down 8 points, Burner is up 6. The September poll was taken at a time when the national Republican party had just finished a successful convention, and the nomination of Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate was new and novel. At that time, in Washington state, SurveyUSA showed McCain within 4 points of Barack Obama, statewide, and showed Reichert 10 atop Burner. Today, SurveyUSA shows Obama 16 points atop McCain, a swing of 12 to the Democrats. And, SurveyUSA shows Burner 4 atop Reichert, a swing of 14 to the Democrats.

Among men, Reichert had led by 23, now tied. Among voters under age 50, Reichert had led by 17, now tied. Reichert still holds 90% of the GOP base. Burner holds 82% of the Democrat base. Among Independents, Reichert had led by 8, now trails by 5.