RICHMOND, Va. — Senator Mark Warner (D – Virginia) holds a 51-39 lead over Republican challenger Ed Gillespie, according to a poll released Tuesday by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University.
“With four weeks of campaigning left to go, Mark Warner holds a commanding lead over Ed Gillespie, 51 percent to 39 percent among likely voters in the November 4 election for U.S. Senate. The Wason Center likely voter model takes into consideration how much thought registered voters have given to the upcoming elections, how closely they are following news about the elections, and how certain they are to vote,” the Wason Center wrote. “Libertarian Robert Sarvis has three percent support, and seven percent say they are undecided. Three-fourths of Warner and Gillespie voters say they are very certain of their vote choice.”
The poll found while Warner maintained a double-digit with strong support among independent, Democrat, women and African-American voters in every region of Virginia, Gillespie has seen some support from previously undecided voters since the campaigns reignited after Labor Day.
“While Ed Gillespie’s numbers are improving as the campaigns turn up the volume, Mark Warner continues to be in a strong position heading into the final few weeks of this election,” Dr. Quentin Kidd, director of the Wason Center for Public Policy, said. “Warner not only maintains the solid backing of his own partisans, but also strong support among ideological moderates and meaningful shares among Republicans and ideological conservatives.”
Voters indicated the economy, health care, the federal budget and immigration were issued they would like to see tackled in the U.S. Senate.
“Voters trust the competence of Mark Warner on the important issues of the day, especially the one they say matters the most – jobs,” Kidd said. “Ed Gillespie has only a few weeks to convince voters that he would do a better job than Warner, and at this point in the race he has not done that.”
Gillespie and Warner will debate the issues live on CBS 6 and the WTVR.com live stream Monday, October 13 at 7 p.m.
Both Warner and Gillespie have appeared on CBS 6 News at 7 to answer questions on those issues from CBS 6 anchor Bill Fitzgerald.
Senator Warner appeared in August 2014.
Ed Gillespie appeared in September 2014.
