Because of Centrist Mark Warner, VA may be trending Democrat

[wyldwolf]

Democrats aren't supposed to be faring so well in what is assumed to be a Republican state.

One reason that they are, to hear people on both sides of the political aisle tell it, has a little something to do with the sitting Democratic Party governor.

"I think it's very good news from the standpoint that it was an affirmation of the way that Mark Warner has gone about governing," said Dick Cranwell, the chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party.

The good news that Cranwell was referring to had to do with the virtual dead heats in all three statewide races reflected in the July 19-21 polling conducted by Mason-Dixon. Democratic Party gubernatorial nominee Tim Kaine held a one-point lead over Republican Party opponent Jerry Kilgore at the top of the ticket. Lieutenant-governor candidate Leslie Byrne and attorney-general candidate Creigh Deeds, meanwhile, were trailing rivals Bill Bolling and Bob McDonnell by three points and one point, respectively.

A key factor in the strong showing - the support of voters in the poll for Gov. Warner, whose approval rating, according to Mason-Dixon, stood at 74 percent last week.

http://www.augustafreepress.com/stories/storyReader$35970