For Immediate Release
A recent survey of Virginia's 5th Congressional District by Zogby International reveals only 46% of likely voters believe Representative Virgil Goode (R- Rocky Mount) deserves to be re-elected. On a generic congressional ballot, voters favor the Democratic challenger over the Republican incumbent by 48.5% to 37%.
"I was pleased to see the results of Zogby's poll, but I was not surprised. Virginians know it is time for a change. Republicans and Democrats are telling me that they are fed up. Our trust has been betrayed by George Bush and the Republican Party, and Mr. Goode is a part of that," said Al Weed, Goode's Democratic challenger.
Weed is viewed favorably by a 3 to 1 ratio. The Nelson County farmer received 35% of the vote and held Goode to 49.2% in a head to head match-up. Weed's showing is impressive considering his 60% name recognition within the 5th District. Following positive and negative descriptions of each candidate, Weed trailed Goode by only half a percent, 40% to 40.5%.
A majority of 5th District voters, 54.9%, view President George W. Bush unfavorably. 59.7% believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.
Displeasure with Republicans in Congress and the White House, as well as Rep. Goode's questionable ties to convicted felon Mitchell Wade and the MZM scandal show that Goode is vulnerable for defeat.
The survey was conducted on June 26-28 among 601 likely voters in the largely rural 5th district. The margin of error is +/- 4.1%.