Allen and Webb in Virtual Tie, Post Poll Says
2006-10-16
Source: Washington Post
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rss feedVirginia Sen. George Allen (R) and Democratic challenger James Webb are virtually tied in a race that could shift the balance of power in Washington and which reinforces the differences between Northern Virginia and the rest of the commonwealth, according to a new Washington Post poll.
Allen gets 49 percent, compared with 47 percent for Webb, within the 3 percentage point margin of error for the poll conducted over three days last week. With few respondents saying they are undecided and most seemingly locked in for their candidate, the poll indicates that the candidates' strategies for turning out supporters will be vital and that changes in the national political climate could tilt the outcome.
President Bush's approval rating among Virginians who say they are likely to vote is about the same as it is nationally. But fewer people in the state say their feelings about Bush will influence their Senate vote, compared with the number in a national poll. And in a sign that the greater Democratic enthusiasm seen nationally is also evident in Virginia, the poll finds that fewer of those who say they are certain to vote Nov. 7 identify themselves as Republicans than a year ago.
The three issues that poll respondents cite most frequently as extremely important -- the situation in Iraq, the war on terrorism and ethics in government -- are all volatile subjects heading into the campaigns' final weeks. The poll shows that Allen has a sizable advantage among those who cite terrorism and that Webb is not doing as well as Democrats nationally in turning the Iraq war and Republican congressional scandals into issues that work for his side.
Northern Virginians are increasingly Democratic -- more distrustful of the war in Iraq and the president and more supportive of Webb than the rest of the state, according to the poll. The region is the economic engine of the commonwealth and the source of much of its growth, and on many issues, its urbanizing and diverse population seems to agree more with the rest of the nation and less with those who live south of the Rappahannock River.
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