According to local radio, Mark Warner is to announce his intent to run for U.S. Senate from Virginia tomorrow Sept. 13, 2007 @9AM by email. With recent poll numbers in mind, moderate Republican Tom Davis(R-VA-11th Dist.) would be foolish to give up his safe U.S. House seat to go up against a popular former governor (80% approval rating when he left office in 2006). But I dare Davis to do it because we would have opportunity to capture both the House and the Senate seats since the 11th district is in recently-turned democratic territory of Northern Virginia.
Sure, George Allen had the same poll number a year before the election 2006 against Jim Webb. However, the state is trending democratic in recent years and Allen was running against the nationwide tide. The tide is still against republicans for 2007 and 2008 and Warner has instant statewide name recognition minus the "poll-sinking" racist gaffes that Allen posesssed.
Right now I only see former governor J. Gilmore vs. M. Warner since Gilmore does not have a job. But be mindful that Warner has the same poll number aginst Gilmore as he is against Davis. Of course, Warner was the one who fixed Gilmore's budget-blowing car tax relief and restored Virginia's credit ratings.
I just love the blue tsunami rushing to Virginia's shores. Congratulations to Jim Webb. He is soon to be the senior Democratic senator from Virginia!