A new Rasmussen poll out today shows Democratic Governor Mark Warner leading Republican Senator George Allen in a head to head presidential race in Virginia. The poll shows Warner leading 49% to 44% with 8% undecided and a 4.5% margin of error. The same poll has Warner with a 71% favorability rating and Allen with 67% favorability. The poll also shows Allen ahead of all four Democratic names mentioned as possible candidates for his Senate seat in next year's election. Leslie Byrne comes the closest (34%-54%) while the other names trail further behind: Ben Affleck (20%-63%), James Webb (26%-57%), and Chap Petersen (26%-57%). In addition, 41% of Virginia voters believe that Mark Warner should run for the White House, while 38% say the same about George Allen. You can read the full reports here and here as well as a story in today's Washington Times.
Aside from George Allen and Mark Warner, the poll reveals that 53% of voters feel Iraq is a more important issue than immigration, while 30% feel the opposite. Also on Iraq, the poll finds that 54% of Virginia voters believe that finishing the mission in Iraq should be a higher priority than getting the troops home as soon as possible. Only 42% say getting the troops home should be a higher priority.
The last piece of data shows that 63% of voters approve of the way Tim Kaine is performing in his role as Governor-elect so far. Not a bad start.