Poll Watch: Washington Post Virginia 2012 Senatorial Survey

Washington Post Virginia 2012 Senatorial Survey

• Tim Kaine (D) 46%
• George Allen (R) 46%

Among Democrats

• Tim Kaine (D) 85%
• George Allen (R) 10%

Among Republicans

• George Allen (R) 86%
• Tim Kaine (D) 10%

Among Independents

• George Allen (R) 49%
• Tim Kaine (D) 39%

Favorable / Unfavorable {Net}

• Tim Kaine 56% / 28% {+28%}
• George Allen 51% / 26% {+25%}

Thinking back to when Tim Kaine was governor, would say you approve or disapprove of the way Kaine handled his job as governor?

• Approve 58%
• Disapprove 31%

Thinking back to when George Allen was in the Senate, would you say you approve or disapprove of the way Allen handled his job as U.S. senator?

• Approve 55%
• Disapprove 25%

For each item I name, please tell me how important it will be in your vote for U.S. Senate this year. - extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not at all important?

The economy

• Extremely/very important 92%
• Somewhat/not at all important 7%

Federal budget deficit

• Extremely/very important 82%
• Somewhat/not at all important 17%

Education

• Extremely/very important 77%
• Somewhat/not at all important 23%

Health care

• Extremely/very important 76%
• Somewhat/not at all important 23%

Taxes

• Extremely/very important 72%
• Somewhat/not at all important 27%

The U.S campaign against terrorism

• Extremely/very important 69%
• Somewhat/not at all important 30%

Foreign policy

• Extremely/very important 57%
• Somewhat/not at all important 41%

Immigration issues

• Extremely/very important 56%
• Somewhat/not at all important 43%

Abortion

• Extremely/very important 40%
• Somewhat/not at all important 56%

Transportation issues

• Extremely/very important 41%
• Somewhat/not at all important 56%

Looking ahead, will one reason for your vote for U.S. Senate be to express support for President Obama, to express opposition to Obama, or is Obama not a factor in your choice?

• Support 26%
• Opposition 21%
• Obama not a factor 51%

During the 2006 Senate campaign George Allen made comments to an Indian-American supporter of Allen’s opponent at a campaign rally that were interpreted by some as racially insensitive, a claim Allen denied. In thinking about the 2012 Senate race, will Allen’s comments at that 2006 campaign event be extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not at all important in your vote?

• Extremely important 10%
• Very important 9%
• Somewhat important 25%
• Not at all important 53%

As you may know, Tim Kaine served as both Virginia governor and Chairman of the Democratic National Committee for much of 2009. Overall, do you think Kaine’s work for the DNC helped his performance as governor, hurt it or did it not make much of a difference?

• Helped 20%
• Hurt 16%
• Did not make much of a difference 55%

Survey of 1,040 registered voters was conducted April 28 to May 4, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points.