(CNN) – A poll released Tuesday showed the race for Virginia's hotly contested U.S. Senate seat in a dead heat, six months before voters in the Commonwealth head to the polls.
The Washington Post survey showed former Democratic Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine tied with the state's past Republican governor and senator, George Allen. Both had backing from 46% of registered voters. Among independents, the race was similarly deadlocked: Kaine had support from 46% of independents, while Allen was at 45%.
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Kaine and Allen are competing to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Jim Webb, a Democrat who has staked out a largely moderate position in the Senate. Kaine served as governor of the state from 2006-2010, and then went on to become the chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Allen was governor of Virginia from 1994-1998, and then represented the state in the U.S. Senate beginning in 2001. He lost his re-election bid to Webb in 2006.
In Tuesday's poll, Allen held a slight edge in favorability. Forty-six percent of respondents said they viewed the candidate favorably, compared to 31% who said they had an unfavorable impression of him.
Kaine's favorability rating stood at 41%, with 39% of voters saying they viewed him unfavorably.
The poll also reflected a gender gap between the two candidates. Kaine led Allen among women 49%-42%, while Allen was ahead among men, 51%-43%.
Regionally, the poll reflected a familiar split between the Democrat-leaning Northern Virginia suburbs and the conservative areas in the rest of the state. Kaine was ahead of Allen in the DC suburbs, 58%-39%. Kaine also led Allen in the Tidewater region, which has a large African-American population, as well as a heavy military presence.
In the central and western part of the state, Allen led 54%-38%.
In first quarter fundraising reports released in April, Allen announced having $2.7 million cash on hand, compared to Kaine's $4.4 million.
The Washington Post poll surveyed 964 registered voters by phone in Virginia from April 28-May 2. The sampling error was plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
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Only in Virginia could a "real" Republican stand a chance of losing their seat to a Tea Party moron. I guess you folks in Virginia haven't heard yet – the Tea Party is disliked by both Republicans and Democrats. You will see this in November. So, go ahead and replace a real politician with a wannabe. Then the Dem's will be sure to win in November. Kind of like cutting off your nose to spite your face . . .
The Washington Post poll surveyed 964 registered voters by phone in Virginia from April 28-May 2.
These polls are the most stupidest thing I have ever seen. You poll 964 people by phone, and that is supposed to be repesentative of the whole state. You got to be kidding me right. Virigiana has Millions of American and 964 people is all you called. This poll is GARBAGE.
Oh yeah, the mr macaca moment. I think Virginians have had enough of their mistake of electing mr confederate internal probing of pregnant women now just a worthless sonogram mcdonnell and his side kick cuccinelli.
i just remember Allen calling a girl "Macaca" or something that was racist while running for Senate last time around. i guess people forget how bad these people are when they go away and come back.
Kaines wins this race. Allen is a bigoted, racist clown.
How can any so call independent voter vote for Allen he showed his true colors using the racist word "Macaca. If any independent vote for this guy is not a true independent and that`s a fact.
45% for Allen? And I once thought that Virginians were pretty savvy.
As a resident Virginian, I'm not voting for a racist as my U.S. senator.
Hey!! Macaca! You're back! Long time no see old friend. Old, rich, white, ignorant, impotent, racist, friend. Nice to see you. Hope you're spending some of that old money, Macaca.
Has George Allen attended real sensitivity class on ethnicity and race, or are we going to have another bigoted Republicans
in congress, as if we do not have enough of them?
The fact that Allen is even in the race tells us all we need to know about the GOBP's full blown embrace of racism this year. Apparently the GOBP cult's elites feel they have no chance unless they can rile up the racists and get em out to vote.
When will CNN and the rest of our so-called "liberal" media and start reporting on the massive surge in GOBP-fueled racism casting a giant shadow over this election?
Kaine is the clown that lead the Democrat's to a record defeat in 2008 and got sent packing. Voting for him is voting for the biggest loser of 2008! The wave to dump Obama will send Kaine to the bottom with him.
"Kaine is the clown that lead the Democrat's to a record defeat in 2008 and got sent packing. Voting for him is voting for the biggest loser of 2008! "
And here we see an example of a typical GOBP cultist goosestepping along to the tunes of the elites running his cult. Notice how he embraces the racist and puts down Kaine without a single mention of policies or issues relevant to the election and holding office.
It is beyond comprehension how any decent American could vote for "macaca" Allen's reprehensible behavior.