VA GOP is tailspin! Gov. Warner favored over Sen. Allen in '06

[carrowsboy]

http://www.wwbt.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WWBT%2FMGArticle%2FWBT_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784089668

Governor would have edge over Allen in Senate race, poll says

From NBC12 News
Wednesday, July 27, 2005


Governor Mark Warner hasn't said if he will run for president or the U.S. Senate when his job is up in January.

But the voters already are speaking. And they're favoring Warner over Republican Senator George Allen if the two were to meet up in a race.

A Mason-Dixon Poll done late last week says Warner had the support of 47 percent of the 625 people surveyed statewide, while Allen was the choice of 42 percent.

With a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points, the results mean Warner would be slightly ahead in a hypothetical match with Allen, a conservative former governor also popular statewide.

Fifty-year-old Warner has not ruled out a 2006 race with Allen, but shows no enthusiasm for it and is busily traveling the nation speaking to Democratic groups and assessing his chances for a 2008 presidential bid.

[WI_DEM]

1. this is the second poll in two weeks to show Warner up on Allen

I hope he doesn't run for president--I hope he tries to win this Senate seat.

[Frances]

2. I agree

In the long run, controlling the Senate is more important than controlling the presidency in my opinion

[Straight Shooter]

3. I agree, also.

bush wouldn't be able to do squat without his lockstep Congress. Even with them on his side, they're still not able to wreak as much havoc as they would like.

I just want to see "bush Impeached!" on the Sunday headlines. A 2006 Democratic majority in the Senate would make Little Boots accountable for his lies.

[dolstein]

7. Excuse me, but WHAT GOOD WILL IT DO to have Warner in the Senate?

So the Republicans will only have a 54-46 edge. Warner could actually made a difference if he ran for president.

Personally, I think Warner's too smart to run for Senate. He saw what happened to Chuck Robb, another Virginia Democrat with a once promising future.

Chuck Robb was so popular in Virginia in 1988 that the incumbent Republican senator decided not to seek re-election. Six years later, Robb had to endure one of the ugliest races in the country. Six years after that, his political career was over.

The Senate is a political dead end. Warner knows this.

[ISUGRADIA]

11. Chuck Robb self destructed,he destroyed his own future

[ironman202]

4. I like Mark Warner a lot...

but can't we have ANY high office holders that aren't billionaires?

[Progressive420]

5. I dont think he is a billionaire

he is still super rich though. But he is a really nice guy and he is really down to Earth I think he would make an excellent Senator.

[dolstein]

6. At least Warner made his fortunte -- he didn't marry it

I don't think Warner's wealth would be held against him if he ran for president.

Seriously, wouldn't it be nice to have a SUCCESSFUL businessman in the White House, instead of someone whose business had to be repeatedly bailed out by his fathers political supporters.

[snowbear]

8. Listened to him on Big Eddie Monday.. he's going for 2008...

And he does have a lot going for him!

Extremely popular governor of a southern state
Self-made millionare (One of Forbes top richest $$$$$$)
Mid-west born with a "sourthern drawl"
Has major crossover appeal (even once sponsored his own Nascar team) :o
He's a Governor with a stellar record, not a Senator with a lengthy record
Virginia was just voted "Best Managed State in the Nation" for 2005

I was impressed by his interview on Big Ed Schultz on Monday. He did an awesome job!

His Lt. Governor (Kaine) wants him to run with General Clark as his VP :patriot:

Warner has to go on the "ones to watch" list!

[Frances]

9. I would definitely vote for Warner for President

and I would love to see Clark as his vice-president. I think that Clark learned a lot about politics in 2004 and would be a real asset.

But any Democratic president will need as many Dem senators as possible and I think Warner would be an outstanding senator. But your point about Robb is well taken. Of course, Robb did make the terrible mistake of getting a massage from the wrong woman.

[fujiyama]

12. His Lt. Governor sounds like a smart man!

I believe he's running for Governor right?

Of course, I wouldn't mind Clark in the top spot, but I think him and Warner would make a great ticket.

Warner may be a moderate, but unlike Hillary, I believe he could actually win. He's won statewide office in a red southern state. He's an ACCOMPLISHED, POPULAR GOVERNOR, which means he hasn't a long trail of controversial votes that he must try to defend - and importantly, he has executive experience.

I think making a run for the senate would be a waste of time. It's really frustrating being in the minority party in the senate, a reason why some senators like Corzine are deciding to leave.

[tedoll78]

10. I'd love for Warner to grab that Senate seat for us.

Combine it with:
1) Sanders in VT
2) Casey in PA
3) ???? in RI

That'd get us to 48 seats. And not to sound too cold, but Arlen Specter isn't looking too well these days; Governor Rendell's appointment would get us to #49. Even if we were to stop cold there, the GOP would have much, much less leverage in the Senate. Hell, they probably would have zero chance of ending the filibuster, which would force Bush to nominate much more moderate judges to the Supreme Court (again, at the risk of sounding insensitive.. Stevens could croak any day, or last another 10 years).

We have plenty of other good potential Presidential candidates. We need gains in the Senate ASAP.

[safi0]

13. Actually

That would get us to 47. Jeffords and Sanders are both Independents, but Jeffords is considered a Dem. for all practical purposes and Sanders will be too.

[snowbear]

14. Do you think Sanders will win?

And is there a Democrat also running? ~~ Thanks :bounce:

[safi0]

15. Sanders will win

The only Vermont politician close to him in popularity is VT's other Senator Patrick Leahy. I heard there were a couple of Dems that were interested in running but I think the DSCC will try to persuade them not to and tell them to run for the soon-to-be vacant house seat.