Kaine, Allen tied in 2012 Senate matchup, Post poll shows

The Washington Post ^ | May 7, 2011 | Ben Pershing and Peyton M. Craighill

[Clintonfatigued]

George Allen and Timothy M. Kaine are locked in a dead heat 18 months from Election Day, according to a new Washington Post poll, suggesting that the U.S. Senate race between the Virginia titans may live up to its billing as one of the most competitive contests in the nation.

The candidates are tied at 46 percent among registered voters in the battle to succeed retiring Sen. James Webb (D). Neither Allen (R) nor Kaine (D) is guaranteed his party’s nomination, but the survey shows that both men enjoy huge leads over potential intraparty opponents.

The 2012 contest will play out in a state that has changed dramatically in recent years. Kaine — the former governor and Democratic National Committee chairman — draws strong support in portions of Northern Virginia, which has rapidly gained population, wealth and political clout. Allen, the ex-governor and senator, remains stronger in the rest of the state.

[Jane Austen]

Kaine is worse than Webb.

[max americana]

>according to a new Washington Post poll

Translation: the Republican leads by double digits.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"candidates are tied at 46 percent among registered voters"

Worthless poll. Registered voters don't decide an election, LIKELY voters do.

[KoRn]

Looks like we’re in for another late night in select Northern VA/Richmond precincts.

[Clintonfatigued]

This race could go either way, though George Allen ought to be polling better than he is IMHO. I still have doubts as to whether he’s so gaffe-prone that we would be better off with someone else as the nominee.

[Clintonfatigued]

In any case, the outer suburbs of northern Virginia (aka NOVA) appear to hold the key.

[katiedidit1]

George Allen was a great governor and senator. How Kaine can even be close is shocking. Short memories of what Allen did for Virginia.

[fieldmarshaldj]

The Compost loathes Allen. They only commissioned this poll utilizing a discredited method to give the false appearance that this is a tied race. It simply isn’t. If it was, they’d have released the results for likely voters, and for that, I guarantee Allen leads by (at least) 10%.

[TheOldLady]

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[freedom1st]

I think this poll is good news for Allen.

[ez]

Tied among registered voters? Good. I expect turnout to decide the close contests and I expect a huge anti-Obama wave of turnout across all 57 states. ;)

[Longbow1969]

The Compost loathes Allen. They only commissioned this poll utilizing a discredited method to give the false appearance that this is a tied race. It simply isn’t. If it was, they’d have released the results for likely voters, and for that, I guarantee Allen leads by (at least) 10%.

The Washington Compost hates Allen more than America's worst enemies. This "news" operation literally made it their mission to destroy George Allen. They nurtured and promoted the "macaca" story with front page story after story to destroy Allen. To this day I don't even get what the big deal with saying "macaca" was.

Still, saying that, Allen handled it badly. Allen was a great governor and senator and I thought perhaps one day a strong Presidential candidate, but he really bungled the PR war on the whole "macaca" thing. It really would not surprise me if indeed he and Kaine are tied. As someone up thread mentioned, I do wonder if we might not have done better with a fresh face. This is Virginia so we have a lot of up and coming conservatives that might have made far better candidates. The Dem's put up their strongest contender and I wonder if we did as well.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Couple of tidbits. This is a registered voter poll, not likely voters. Sample is skewed Dem. and Allen does quite a bit better than Kaine amongst Independents. My guess is a “Likely Voter Poll” without the Dem. Skew will have Allen up by 10+.

[HarleyD]

They must have polled the only two districts that voted Democratic in the last election.

[tanknetter]

I think this poll is good news for Allen.

It's a pretty good starting point for him.

Kaine's going to be a tough opponent (he shouldn't be, of course), and given the partisan breakdowns of NoVA, Richmond and the Hampton Roads area I believe these numbers are credible.

[truthguy]

Kaine is worse than Webb.

Yes, I sort of agree. You should have said Kaine is FAR worse than Webb. Kaine is scum of earth and as obnoxious as most of the Rats. I really despise the guy.

Virgina is schizophrenic politically. This is due in large part to Northern Virginia being part of the Washington D.C. liberal culture and the Tidewater Part being part of the military. In both cases you have large numbers of people who have no linkage to the rest of the state. These are the two largest population centers. The rest of the state is very conservative except for the black population which will always vote liberal. I looked at the results of the election Allen lost to Webb and it was Northern Virgina where he lost it. The Washington Compost was a big factor in smearing Allen in the last election. Allen was as good a senator as there was in Washington. But the liberal knives were out for him. It will be the same this time. Allen needs to be prepared for this. Kaine will make Virginians long for Webb. Webb was about as good as you were gonna get for a Democrat. That's not saying much but I really hope Virginians will put Allen back in. We desperately need to retake the Senate.

[truthguy]

How Kaine can even be close is shocking

Two reasons:

1. Northern Virginia

2. Washington Post Smears

[lurp]

Allen is a self-styled patrician doofus and stooge

Keane is a Democrat boot-licking doofus and stooge

gotta go with Allen

[lurp]

Keane = Kaine