NBC Poll: Kaine Leads Allen in Virginia Senate Race

[JaneQPublic]

Finally, a little good news out of Virginia, after their "transvaginal probe" legislation. Pres. Obama is also polling well there. Sadly, though, Gov. McDonnell is maintaining his popularity.

In what will surely be one of the most closely watched U.S. Senate contests of 2012, Democrat Tim Kaine leads Republican George Allen in Virginia by nearly 10 percentage points, according to a new NBC News/Marist poll. [http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/A_Politics/_Today_Stories_Teases/120304NBCMaristVirginiaMarch2012.pdf]

Kaine, the former governor of the state, gets support from 48 percent of registered Virginia voters, and Allen, a former governor and U.S. senator, gets 39 percent. Fourteen percent say they’re undecided.

The poll also shows President Obama and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell with 51 percent approval ratings in the state, and it finds Obama with a substantial lead over his potential GOP rivals in this key battleground state.

The NBC/Marist survey of Virginia was conducted from Feb. 29-March 2 of 2,518 registered voters, and it has a margin of error of plus-minus 2 percentage points.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/blogs/first-read-dmv/NBC-Poll-Kaine-Leads-Allen-in-Virginia-Senate-Race-141331403.html

[LetTimmySmoke]

1. McDonnell, unlike Kasich, Walker, and Scott, knows when to shut his mouth.

And he did manage to pull off a dodge on the vaginal probe bill, correctly calculating that his approval ratings would have tanked had he doubled down.

[Arneoker]

2. McDonell is definitely much more moderate than the many wingnuts here.

But he is also a major wuss.

[Drunken Irishman]

3. He seems like a wuss. O'Malley kicked his butt in their little debate.

[FSogol]

5. McDonnell is not more moderate, he just has the ability to convince

people his extremist views are moderate positions. He doesn't mind running from legislation he promoted if it turns out to be unpopular. This is what happened in this trans-vaginal overreach. McDonnell is very dangerous since he appears as a moderate.

[graham4anything]

10. Yup!

is it you? If so give a holler.

agree with you 100%

[Thrill]

4. They may need to give McDonnell

a spot on the ticket in order to keep VA close

[FSogol]

6. McDonnell will be Romney's vp choice.

[Marsala]

8. But that invasive ultrasound bill hurt McDonnell's chances

Romney won't want to get into a social issues debate that alienates women.

[Robbins]

7. Mcdonnell

The poll finds Romney would only gain 1 point with him as his running mate.

Both he and Obama have the same approl rating.Strange but true.

[CobaltBlue]

9. Match: President and Senate

The state of Virginia will likely give us the same party results for the presidential and U.S. Senate elections for 2012.

Va. was won, in a Democratic pickup, by President Barack Obama by 6.30%. He beat John McCain nationally by 7.26%. So, the spread was not even a full percentage point. Result for presidency is likely that Va. will again vote for the winner. And I predict the Senate will match with party selection.

I'm among those predicting re-election for President Obama. If that materializes, it would also bring a Senate win for former Gov. Tim Kaine.

[Arneoker]

11. OMG, I sure hope Kaine wins!

He is a good guy, and Allen is such a schmucky loser! He even gives Ken Kookinelli (our AG and inquisitor of scientists who upset Big Oil fame) a run for his money!