VIRGINIA SENATE: Allen (R) 46% Webb (D) 39%

BENENSON STRATEGY GROUP
1054 31ST STREET, SUITE 526, WASHINGTON, DC 20007
TEL: 202.339.6065
To: Webb Campaign
Fr: Pete Brodnitz
Date: June 29, 2006
Re: Internal Polling

The race for U.S. Senate in Virginia is competitive. Allen has just a 7% lead over Webb in the current ballot and falls short of 50% support. This is despite that the fact that Allen has been in public office for most of the past 24 years, and as a result he has a 48% name identification advantage over Webb (90% know Allen while 42% know Webb). At this stage of the 2005 race for Governor, Kilgore led Kaine in the ballot by 5% but he ultimately lost the election by 5.7%.

One of the challenges facing Allen is the current political climate, in which voters are unhappy about the course of the country and performance of the President, and as a result they are looking for someone who will change the course. In this climate, Senator Allen’s current advertising that touts his accomplishments may be missing the mark, which is why despite 2 weeks of heavy advertising; Allen has not been able to achieve 50% support.

Further evidence of Allen’s vulnerability is that once voters are read a short positive profile of each, the race is in a statistical dead heat (Webb 44%, Allen 43%).

Below are the results of a statewide survey of 601 likely, registered voters that was conducted June 22 - 27, 2006. The margin of error for the results is ±4.0%.

The Current Ballot is Close:

In the current ballot, Allen leads by 7% lead but falls short of 50%.
This November there will be an election for U.S. Senate. If the candidates were… for whom would you vote?
Democrat Jim Webb 39%
Republican George Allen 46%
Don’t Know 15%

either. The Diebold Defeatists may come in to say otherwise, but I feel we have a chance here. An uphill battle for sure though.

so there is no reason not to bust ass for Webb in 06! The fact that this state is even in play at all is great. I don't think anyone was calling Allen "vulnerable" a few months ago.

volunteer roll. Allen has a smug that needs to be wiped off his face.

:toast:

is that he is recognized by 90%, whereas Webb is only recognized by 40-something percent. I imagine that people will like Webb once they are more exposed to him.