Kilgore, Kaine neck-and-neck

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The race to be Virginia's next governor is tied, with both Republican Jerry W. Kilgore and Democrat Timothy M. Kaine receiving the same percentage of support, a statewide poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports shows. [See Poll]

If the election were held today, both men would receive 45 percent, the survey of 500 likely Virginia voters shows. The poll suggests more voters are making up their minds as the Nov. 8 election nears and as both candidates run negative television ads critical of their opponent.

Independent candidate H. Russell Potts Jr. would receive 5 percent of the vote, no change from the last poll conducted, Rasmussen said.

The poll showed that 5 percent of voters were undecided, down from the last poll taken on Sept. 14, which showed 10 percent of voters were unsure. The margin of error is 4.5 percentage points.

The results were provided to The Washington Times yesterday. The New Jersey-based Rasmussen surveyed the voters by telephone Wednesday.

"Kaine is making progress among the important constituencies he needs to reach," said Scott Rasmussen, president of the polling firm. "So far, Kaine is doing a better job of getting those who are unsure."

The survey showed 82 percent of Democrats favor Mr. Kaine, up from 67 percent in the last poll.

This is the closest two gubernatorial candidates have been in Virginia since at least 1989, when Democrat L. Douglas Wilder beat Republican Marshall Coleman, said Mark J. Rozell, a professor of public policy at George Mason University.

"There's never been a really solid or comfortable lead for either candidate so far," Mr. Rozell said. "It's the tightest race in modern history."

The Wilder-Coleman race resulted in a recount; the election was decided by fewer than 5,000 votes. However, Mr. Wilder had held a steady lead in polls.