VA-Sen: Warner Still Blowing Out Gilmore

Over the past five months, Rasmussen Reports polling on the Virginia Senate race has remained fairly static, with support for former Democratic Governor Mark Warner ranging from 53 percent to 57 percent and support for former Republican Governor Jim Gilmore ranging from 37 percent to 38 percent. The latest numbers from the pollster, released yesterday, are right near that range:

Democrat Mark Warner still has a comfortable lead over Republican Jim Gilmore in the race for Virginia's seat in the U.S. Senate. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Virginia voters found Warner up 55% to 39%.

The gap was slightly larger last month when Warner led Gilmore 57% to 37%.

Warner dominates among unaffiliated voters. He leads Gilmore 65% to 21% among those not affiliated with either Republicans or Democrats.

Warner is viewed favorably by 65% and unfavorably by 32%. Gilmore's numbers are 51% favorable and 42% favorable.

It's hard for me to remember another Senate race that has consistently had such a large advantage for the challenging party over the incumbent party. Certainly, Bob Casey led Rick Santorum throughout the Pennsylvania Senate election last cycle, but even his double-digit margin tended to be smaller than Warner's current lead (although Casey's final 17-point margin of error was larger than Warner's lead today). In 2004, Barack Obama led Alan Keyes consistently, but Keyes was a joke and had never won statewide, as has Gilmore (who was elected as Attorney General in 1993 and Governor in 1997). So it sure looks like we're watching an unprecedented race here. And truthfully, I would be really excited to see someone with the charisma and leadership ability of Mark Warner in the United States Senate.



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Re: VA-Sen: Warner Still Blowing Out Gilmore (2.00 / 1)

This may be one of the rare contests--not unheard of, but rare--where the down ticket race may have an effect on generating greater Democratic turnout, thus increasing the chances of Obama winning Virginia.

I grew up in Virginia for most of my life (14 on).  The state is not really a Southern State so much anymore, not with the population expansion in NOVA.  The election of Warner and Kaine in what had been a solid GOP state at a statewide level for a long time shows that.

Add NOVA to the huge turnout in Richmond, Hampton Roads, and a smaller but significant bump from Roanaoke, and you could see a win for Obama here.

The Commonwealth is far more purple than the glib people who say Obama can never win Virginia would have you agree.

Put Webb on the ticket?  Fuck me.  It's in the bag.  


by LarsThorwald on Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 11:03:00 PM EST

Re: VA-Sen: Warner Still Blowing Out Gilmore (none / 0)

I wouldn't put Webb on the ticket to win VA, it is already in play and with Warner running for Senate our candidate can expect to be very competitive there.

That being said I would consider putting Webb on the ticket for other reasons.


Oh Mammy Dear, we're all mad over here livin' in America
by JDF on Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 11:31:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Warner will win (2.00 / 1)

This is an almost certain pickup for the Democrats.  One, we loves us some Senators named Warner.  

Two, Mark Warner is a hugely popular Governor who would have easily won a second term if Virginia had not wisely term-limited Governors way back in the day.  

Three, Gilmore had some mojo with the car tax thing, but that turned into a big pile of steaming poo, and he's been out of the spotlight way too long.  

Virginia is going to have two Democratic Senators come January.  

Unless one is Vice President.  

I have to confess, I am rock hard right now.  


by LarsThorwald on Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 11:06:20 PM EST

Re: VA-Sen: Warner Still Blowing Out Gilmore (none / 0)

Yeah, I agree Warner has this one in the bag. But Virginia is very military, I just don't think it will be competitive in the general election front!


by buckeyekid622 on Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 11:13:15 PM EST

Re: VA-Sen: Warner Still Blowing Out Gilmore (2.00 / 1)

What I'm hearing from my military connections, daughter, Navy, Annapolis 98, son-in-law, Marine, Annapolis 97 and my local military connections, Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, suggests that the old military=Republican lock ain't so solid anymore.

Personally, I'd rather keep Webb in the Senate, have two Democratic Senators from Virginia, and see someone like Wes Clark or Tony Zinni providing the national security cred as VP.


by jlmccreery on Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 11:21:40 PM EST

Re: VA-Sen: Warner Still Blowing Out Gilmore (2.00 / 1)

Oh yeah bring on the Wes Clark- PLEASE!


Oh Mammy Dear, we're all mad over here livin' in America
by JDF on Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 11:32:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: VA-Sen: Warner Still Blowing Out Gilmore (none / 0)

Agreed on keeping Webb in the Senate.  Putting him on a ticket with either HRC or BO would put his seat in play, and while Webb might bring something to either potential ticket, I think the risk of putting his seat in play offsets that.

The thought of the Commonwealth having two Democratic Senators, a Democratic Governor, and potentially being carried by either HRC or BO is something I would love to see...


First and Foremost: A Democrat in the White House
by mascho on Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 11:47:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

That's margin of victory, not margin of error. (none / 0)


by bobdoleisevil on Thu Apr 03, 2008 at 01:42:34 AM EST

Re: VA-Sen: Warner Still Blowing Out Gilmore (none / 0)

The campaign ads write themselves: Warner cleaned up Gilmore's mess.  

This one's in the bag.  Now let's get some House seats too, the GOP still has a 8-3 edge in the delegation.


by Skaje on Thu Apr 03, 2008 at 02:49:54 AM EST

Re: VA-Sen: Warner Still Blowing Out Gilmore (none / 0)

That's exactly it: Gilmore made the mess that Warner cleared away. I'd suggest this as a meme, rather than cleaned up, because "cleaning up" is something usually (except in baseball) associated with women, while "cleared away" has more of an outdoorsy masculine overtone (clearing away brush).

Radarlady


by radarlady on Thu Apr 03, 2008 at 07:25:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: VA-Sen: Warner Still Blowing Out Gilmore (none / 0)

Even if McDain runs a strong race, I have a feeling that there will be a few more Democrats in the next Congress.


by spirowasright on Thu Apr 03, 2008 at 12:32:28 PM EST


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