Poll: Allen leads GOP Senate field, but trails Webb, Kaine in ’12 matchups

A new poll out today has former governor and U.S. senator George Allen well out in front of a potential 2012 Republican Senate nomination field, but also trailing in hypothetical matchups with Democratic Sen. Jim Webb and another former governor, Tim Kaine.

Allen, who lost the seat that is up for re-election in 2012 to Webb in the 2006 elections, is at 46 percent support among Republicans in the poll done by Public Policy Polling of Virginia Republicans. Congressman Eric Cantor is at 18 percent, with Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli at 16 percent.

“Virginia Republicans clearly want George Allen as their nominee. With these kinds of numbers, if he gets into the race, he’s probably a field clearer,” said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling.

Both Webb and Kaine, though, would lead Allen in hypothetical 2012 Senate matchups. Webb leads Allen 49 percent-45 percent in their head-to-head, and Kaine, the current chairman of the Democratic National Committee, leads Allen 50 percent-44 percent.

PPP also tested one-term Democratic congressman Tom Perriello in a head-to-head with Allen. Allen leads that matchup 47 percent-42 percent.

One other poll tidbit: PPP has President Barack Obama leading all of the top potential Republican presidential nominees in Virginia in 2012, with the closest races being with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (48 percent-443 percent) and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee (49 percent-44 percent).

“With Barack Obama looking good to start out the 2012 cycle in Virginia, and now Jim Webb and Tim Kaine joining him, the Republican victories in 2009 and 2010 could be more a blip than 2006 and 2008 were for Democrats,” Debnam said.

Story by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at freepress2@ntelos.net.

Related posts:

1. Miller, Webb bring Senate campaign to Queen City Story by Chris Graham Can Jim Webb overcome his past Republican ties – including his endorsement in 2000 of potential 2006 general-election candidate George Allen...
2. Who will Dems field to challenge Allen in ’06? Story by Chris Graham Gov. Mark Warner is not going to seek the Virginia Democratic Party nomination to run for the United States Senate in...
3. Poll: Romney leads GOP field Edited by Chris Graham freepress2@ntelos.net   A new Public Policy Polling survey released on Monday has former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leading the potential 2012...
4. Poll: McCain leads in Virginia Item by Chris Graham freepress2@ntelos.net A new poll conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University has likely Republican presidential nominee John McCain leading his two potential Democratic...
5. Poll: Obama leads potential ’12 GOP foes A new poll has the seemingly quite politically vulnerable Barack Obama looking OK in a series of hypothetical matchups with possible 2012 GOP presidential hopefuls....