Allen Leads Kaine in Potential VA Senate Race; Republican Presidential Hopefuls Viewed Negatively Compared to Obama

SALEM, Va., Feb. 28, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- Republican George Allen has opened an eight-point lead on Democrat Tim Kaine in a likely November matchup for the U.S. Senate seat from Virginia according to The Roanoke College Poll. Virginians are somewhat more positive about the situation in the country, but they are not enamored with any of the Republican Presidential candidates. In potential Presidential election scenarios, President Obama leads all Republican candidates except Mitt Romney, with whom he is statistically tied.

The Roanoke College Poll interviewed 607 residents of Virginia between February 13 and February 26. The Poll has a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.

Allen holds an 8-point lead over Kaine (45%-37%), up from a three-point margin in September 2011.  Allen leads among political Independents (43%-38%), but he trails Kaine among ideological moderates (50%-33%). There is also a gender gap with the potential candidates tied among women (40%-40%), but Allen leads among men (49%-33%).

All of the remaining Republican Presidential candidates fared poorly in terms of the public's impression of them. Rick Santorum was the best with 35% favorable and 47% unfavorable, followed by Mitt Romney (28% and 47%), Ron Paul (26% and 54%), and Newt Gingrich (21% and 64%). President Obama's ratings were 44% and 44%, while Governor McDonnell's were 57% and 26%.

In potential November matchups, President Obama is statistically tied with Mitt Romney (42%-43%), but leads Rick Santorum (45%-39%), Ron Paul (45%-35%), and Newt Gingrich (48%-37%).

"President Obama's numbers have improved along with views of the national economy, although both remain weak," said Harry Wilson, director of the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research.  "The continuous bashing of Republican candidates by other Republican candidates appears to have resulted in low approval ratings of all them. They continue to emphasize social issues on the campaign trail, while Virginians remain focused on the economy."

"The likely Allen/Kaine race still has many undecided voters, and most polls continue to show it to be a close race," he said. "These results should be good news for Allen, but it is a long time between now and November."

More information, methodology and all frequencies may be found at: http://bit.ly/AkJMeP

SOURCE Roanoke College