Quinnipiac University Poll: Tim Kaine with big lead in Senate race

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine has an 18-point lead on Republican challenger Corey Stewart, chair of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.

The poll registered the race at 54 percent for Kaine, the Democratic incumbent, and 36 percent for Stewart, a Republican.

Women back Sen. Kaine 61-28 percent, while men are divided with 46 percent for Kaine and 45 percent for Stewart, according to the polling.

White voters go Democratic 49-42 percent. Non-white voters go Democratic 66-20 percent. Stewart takes Republicans 83-7 percent. Kaine leads 94-1 percent among Democrats and 54-34 percent among independent voters.

Voters approve 55-36 percent of the job Kaine is doing and give him a 51-33 percent favorability rating. Stewart gets a divided 28-30 percent favorability, with 39 percent who don’t know enough about him to form an opinion of him.

The economy is the most important issue in deciding how they will vote for U.S. senator, 26 percent of Virginia voters say, as 21 percent list immigration, with 19 percent citing healthcare and 14 percent listing gun policy.

“U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine is in very strong shape for reelection in Virginia, especially among women,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll. “Virginia, which was once a solidly red state, has made the full transition to a blue bastion. Voters in the Old Dominion are happy with the way things are going in their state and they give their statewide Democratic officeholders good approval ratings.”

“The officeholder they don’t like is President Donald Trump, whose job approval is strongly negative. Voters see candidates who embrace him negatively,” Brown said.

Only 32 percent of Virginia voters have a favorable opinion of the Republican Party, while 59 percent have an unfavorable opinion. The Democratic Party gets a divided 46-45 percent favorability rating. Voters approve 51-25 percent of the job Gov. Ralph Northam is doing and approve 53-31 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Mark Warner is doing.

Voters disapprove 58-37 percent of the job President Donald Trump is doing. Virginia voters say 53-39 percent, including 51-36 percent among independent voters, they would like to see the Democratic Party win control of the U.S. House of Representatives this fall.

By a similar 53-41 percent, including 52-39 percent among independent voters, Virginia voters would like to see the Democratic Party win control of the U.S. Senate.

If a candidate for the House of Representatives strongly embraces President Donald Trump and his views on issues, 50 percent of Virginia voters are less likely to vote for that candidate, as 24 percent are more likely to vote for that candidate and 25 percent say support for Trump will have no impact.

Kaine shares their values, Virginia voters say 51-39 percent. Stewart does not share their values, voters say 43-28 percent.

Virginia voters oppose 57-33 percent removing Confederate monuments from government property in the state. Support for removing these monuments is 48-42 percent among non-white voters, with white voters opposed to removing the monuments 63-27 percent.

The Confederate flag is more a symbol of southern pride, 45 percent of voters say, while 43 percent see it as more a symbol of racism. White voters see the flag as more a symbol of southern pride 49-38 percent. Non-white voters see it 55-34 percent as a symbol of racism.