The race in Washington’s 8^th district is heating up. In the last month, Republican incumbent Dave Reichert has dropped a 13 point lead and is now running in a dead heat with Democratic challenger Darcy Burner.

a KING 5 tracking poll last month Republican Dave Reichert had a comfortable lead: 54 percent to Democrat Darcy Burner with 41 percent.

Now, with six weeks left to go, SurveyUSA finds Reichert with 50 percent, Burner at 48 percent The race is now within the margin of error.

This latest poll identifies not just registered voters, but likely voters.

"At some point, Republicans and the Reichert campaign have to acknowledge that they're in a dog fight. This is not being driven by the personalities of the two candidates. It's being driven by the national political mood," said Chris Vance, a principal with the PR firm The Gallitan Group and the former state GOP chairman.

On some votes, Reichert has distanced himself from the Bush administration, but he has not shied away from campaigning with the president, and Democrats believe that's helping Burner.

"He's got a disadvantage, which is he's got a running mate in this race which is George Bush," said state democratic chairman Dwight Pelz.