Former Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine will have to struggle with President Obama’s sinking approval ratings in his U.S. Senate bid in Virginia, but he seems to be holding his own so far.
Quinnipiac University in Connecticut released a poll this morning showing a majority of of Virginians – 54 percent – now disapprove of the president, a six-percent fall from June when a similar survey showed a 48-48 split.
But Kaine remains in a statistical dead heat with his presumptive Republican challenger, George Allen. Allen had 45 percent and Kaine 44 percent in the poll, within the poll’s margin of error and largely unchanged since June, when Kaine held a 43-42 advantage. Allen has several Republican challengers for the nomination, but no other candidates were included in the poll.
The survey of 1,368 registered voters — not likely voters — also found that among those identifying themselves as Republicans, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are leading the pack of presidential hopefuls, with Perry’s 25 percent edging Romney’s 19. No other candidates were in double digits.
But Romney is the only candidate that came out ahead against Obama when the two were polled against each other in a hypothetical general election, though Perry polled close as well. Of those responding, 44 percent would vote for Romney compared to Obama’s 42 percent. That’s in spite of Republican voters preferring Perry to Romney in a head-to-head poll, 43-36.
Perry was within the margin of error against the Democratic president, with 44 percent to Obama’s 42 percent.
