Week 3- Election Post

For this week's election post, I decided to look at the Virginia Senate Seat.

Democratic candidate: Mark Warner

1. Was Governor of Virginia from 2001-2006
2. Grew up in Illinois then moved to Connecticut
3. Graduated Rockville High and majored in political science at GW
4. Earned his A.B. at GW and later earned his J.D. at Harvard
5. Served as a senate staff member to Senator Christopher Dodd
6. Was a keynote speaker at the 2008 DNC
7. Was the managing director of Columbia Capital Corporation where he founded and invested in a number of technology companies

Republican candidate: Jim Gilmore

1. Served as the Attorney General of Virginia from 1994-1998
2. Was Governor of Virginia from 1998 to 2002
3. Born in Richmond, VA
4. Graduated from John Randolph Tucker High and received an undergrad degree from UVA
5. Also graduated from University of Virginia Law School
6. Tried to run for president this year but didn't because he thought he couldn't raise enough funds
7. Current Chairman of the National Council on Readiness and Preparedness program

Issues at stake:

1. Radical Centrist Coalition- Warner claims that the coalition would improve cooperation in the Congress
2. Alternative energy- Warner is very focused on this issue, however Gilmore is arguing for offshore drilling just like McCain
3. 2004 tax increase

Recent Polling

1. Rasmussen Reports: Gilmore 34% Warner 60%
2. Survey USA: Gilmore 34% Warner 57%
3. Christopher Newport U: Gilmore 30% Warner 54%
4. Public Policy Polling: Gilmore 33% Warner 57%
5. Washington Post: Gilmore 31% Warner 61%

The polls are generally at a 40%-60% ratio. If the polls keep resulting in these numbers, it looks like Warner is going to win.