A new poll from Emerson College shows current Virginia Governor Mark Warner, a Democrat, leading incumbent Republican Senator George Allen 48% to 41%.
http://dcinsidescoop.blogspot.com/2005/02/new-poll-in-va-2006-senate-race.html
In an exclusive Emerson College poll of likely Virginia voters, voters preferred outgoing Democratic Governor Mark Warner (48%) over Republican incumbent U.S. Senator George Allen (41%) in the 2006 Senate race.
"Warner's appeal is unprecedented and could result in a Democratic victory on Capitol Hill in 2006," said David Paleologos, President of DAPA Research, Inc., who oversaw the implementation of the poll. (Emerson College Poll, Release 2/18/05)box
I have been involved in the Draft Mark Warner 2008 campaign, but this poll seems to show that Warner could give Allen a real run for his money. But it also gives more evidence to those Warner 08 supporters who contend that Warner could win Virginia as a presidential candidate, as Virginia is pretty much the only southern state trending in our favor.
Do Democrats have any other options to run against Allen? Its clear that Warner is the strongest potential candidate, but any incumbent at 41% is in trouble, even against a Democrat inferior to Governor Warner.