Governor race vital to Allen, Warner

The gubernatorial election Tuesday in Virginia is as much about Gov. Mark Warner and U.S. Sen. George Allen as it is about the candidates.

A win by Republican Jerry W. Kilgore would help top supporter Mr. Allen, a Virginia Republican who faces re-election next year.

A win for Democrat Timothy M. Kaine would further the presidential ambitions of Mr. Warner, a Democrat.

Mr. Kilgore and Mr. Kaine remain very close in the polls. A statewide Rasmussen Reports survey released yesterday to The Washington Times showed Mr. Kaine with a three percentage point lead, a one-point increase since the firm’s Oct. 27 poll.

The margin of error is three points, so the candidates remain deadlocked.

With the race so tight, the four men will remain on the campaign trail into the final weekend.

Though the results Tuesday will neither make nor break Mr. Allen or Mr. Warner, either would indeed profit from a party victory, said Toni-Michelle Travis, professor of government and politics at George Mason University.

“A Kaine win gives Warner a platform to say his ideas were the direction Virginia should be going in,” she said. “The stakes are higher for Warner because he has no other experience.”

Prior to being elected governor, Mr. Warner, a telecommunications mogul, had never held political office.

Mr. Allen, who also has presidential ambitions, will be at Mr. Kilgore’s side for at least five get-out-the-vote rallies today and tomorrow.

Among the stops will be tailgate parties Sunday night at the Washington Redskins vs. Philadelphia Eagles game in Landover. Mr. Allen’s father, of the same name, was coach of the Redskins from 1971 to 1977.

Allen staffers said the senator will also be with Mr. Kilgore on Monday and Tuesday, unless he must return to Capitol Hill to vote.

Mr. Warner and Mr. Kaine will host a party tonight in Old Town Alexandria. And they will spend tomorrow together in southwest Virginia.

Mr. Warner won the region in 2001 and Mr. Kilgore is from there, which makes the visit even more critical.

On Sunday, the governor will campaign for Mr. Kaine separately in Richmond, Winchester and Charlottesville. They will meet Monday morning for a rally in Roanoke.

Story Continues →