Rasmussen: Three days after Webb Novel story hits, Webb takes 51-46 lead

[Thorgrim]

Rasmussen Premium Section:
"Virginia: Challenger James Webb (D) has taken a modest lead over Senator George Allen in a Sunday night survey. It's Webb 51% Allen 46%.

Favorables for the candidates are essentially unchanged from last week. Allen has lost ground among Republicans and unaffiliated voters. Overall, those with a "very unfavorable" opinion of Allen increased from 31% to 36%. Those with a "very unfavorable" opinion of Webb grew from 21% to 24%."
Poll conducted October 29th

Also a Democratic internal poll from earlier came out, giving belief that the lead is rising as newer numbers come in:
Webb 47
Allen 43
DSCC: New Poll Alert: Webb Beating Allen

On a funnier note:
"In a twist that left Sean Hannity almost speechless on H&C Friday night, FOX News military analyst Col. Hunt said that he preferred Jim Webb over George Allen in the Virgina race because he's a battle tested military man and Allen is just a football player."
See video here:
Crooks and Liars » FOX’s Col. Hunt endorses Jim Webb over George Allen


It looks like all that stuff about Webb losing the VA election and his campaign being over were COMPLETELY WRONG

[motivez]

That'll play well with Republican viewers in VA I'm sure

And yeah, looks like I thought it was going to be a bigger thing than it was. I had no idea the books were so widely read and respected. I had never heard of him as an author, so..

Awesome though. I would love to get that smug racist prick out of office in VA

[RMNIXON]

Last minute negative slams can bounce the wrong way! Look what happened to the last minute "hit" on Governor Arnold by the La Times durring the recall!

[Thorgrim]

Here's yet another twist in Virginia's unexpectedly down-to-the-wire race for U.S. Senate: Democratic candidate James Webb, the novelist and former Navy Secretary whose chances were discounted early on even by many Democrats, has now inched ahead of the incumbent (see crosstabs).

The race has been tightening for months. Until now, though, Republican Senator George Allen has been at least a few points ahead. But the latest Rasmussen Reports survey shows Webb now leading 48% to 46%

Webb does even better when "leaners," currently undecided, agree to pick a candidate. Then Webb leads 51% to 46%.

Less than a week ago, Allen was the candidate with a statistically insignificant lead.

Voters would need flow-chart software to track all the personal attacks in the campaign. But Allen has been getting the worst of it. And he isn't making much headway with a recent effort to impugn Webb's character using incidents from his novels.

To be sure, the effort has raised a question in the minds of some voters. Thirty-nine percent (39%) say the highlighted passages cause concern about Webb. But 59% say No.

GOP voters are much more likely to admit concern, but are not Webb's likeliest converts. The vast majority of Democrats (91%) are unconcerned, as are 64% of unaffiliated voters. And a plurality say the author likely had legitimate literary purposes for crafting the controversial scenes.

Close to half of all voters believe the media has been paying too much attention to the controversy.

Paradoxically, four fifths of all voters, regardless of partisan affiliation, say issues matter more than character in determining their vote. But Allen's slide in the polls began in August with charges about his character.

Senator Allen is viewed "very unfavorably" by 36%, while only 24% are that negative about Webb. Those numbers have increased for both men over the past several days.

Almost all of Senator Allen's supporters say their vote is "for" Allen. Forty-three percent (43%) of Webb supporters say their vote is "against Allen."
-Scott Rasmussen Premium section writeup

Those people who made predictions about the campaign being over and it being an issue sure do look foolish

[Thorgrim]

Hampton,Va.(HFR:RICHMOND, Va.) -- A new statewide poll Monday showed Democrat Jim Webb with a slight lead in next week's close Senate race against Republican incumbent George Allen.

Among likely voters, the former Republican was the choice of 50 percent of those surveyed while 46 percent favored Allen and 4 percent were undecided.
New CNN poll shows Webb with slight edge on Allen

3rd poll showing a 4+ lead by Webb in a row...oh man Allen is looking pretty fucked

[Scrum]

This is a *crazy race.

































*dirty