So does the retirement of Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) increase the vulnerability that Democrats might face against Republican former Sen. George Allen, who narrowly lost to Webb in 2006? Perhaps not, so argues Public Policy Polling (D) — and Allen doesn’t seem like any sort of sure thing.
Back in mid-November, a PPP survey of Virginia found that Tim Kaine, the current chairman of the Democratic National Committee and formerly the governor of Virginia, tested just as well or perhaps even better than Webb. Against Allen, Webb led by 49%-45%, while Kaine scored 50%-44%.
PPP’s Tom Jensen writes today: “24 hours ago Virginia looked like a toss up. And Jim Webb or no Jim Webb, I think it still does.”
In addition, Webb’s approval rating was 43%, with 37% disapproval. Kaine’s favorable rating was 43%, to 40% unfavorable. And Allen’s favorability rating was 40%-41% — just slightly in negative territory, and within the ±4.2% margin of error.
Kaine has previously said he would not run for the Virginia Senate seat if Webb retired. But of course, those comments were made weeks ago, before Webb announced his retirement, and it would have been most improper for a DNC chairman to even entertain the notion of a Senate bid while there was still an incumbent Dem Senator. Let’s see if anything develops over the next few weeks, or if someone else emerges.
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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