Virginia Poll Shows Kilgore, Kaine Tied for Governor’s Race

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jul 25, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Virginia Poll Shows Kilgore, Kaine Tied for Governor’s Race Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 25, 2005

Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) — There are only two gubernatorial races in the 2005 elections and Virginia’s is locked in a dead heat according to a new poll. The survey shows pro-life Republican Jerry Kilgore and pro-abortion Democrat Tim Kaine neck and neck.

According to the Mason-Dixon Polling and Research survey, Kaine received the backing of 38 percent of the 625 likely voters polled and Kilgore had the support of 37 percent. That one-point difference is within the margin of error, meaning the candidates are tied.

Meanwhile, nine percent of those polled are backing pro-abortion state Sen. Russell Potts, a Republican running because he disagrees with Kilgore on abortion, and 16 percent of respondents were undecided.

The poll suggests Potts is taking more support from Kilgore than Kaine, though Kilgore suggests the poll contradicts internal surveys his campaign has conducted.

Kilgore spokesman Tim Murtaugh told the Associated Press, "We see no evidence anywhere to support the results we see [in the Mason-Dixon poll]."

Kilgore has won backing from the pro-life community and is being endorsed by the National Right to Life Committee.

"The endorsement reflects our appreciation for the strong stand Jerry Kilgore has taken on behalf of those members of our human family who are least able to protect themselves," NRLC political director Carol Tobias said.

"He has stood in defense of both unborn children and the medically disabled whose lives are threatened by abortion or euthanasia," she added.

As Virginia’s attorney general, Kilgore promoted legislation to protect pregnant women and their unborn children who are victims of violence. Criminals who attack a pregnant woman and kill or injure her baby can be charged with two crimes under the law. Kilgore also staunchly defended a state law banning partial-birth abortions.

Kaine, who told the Washington Post, during his 2001 campaign for Lt. Governor, that he "opposes efforts to restrict abortions" and that he "opposes efforts to require a parent’s consent before a minor gets an abortion."

Now, facing more intense scrutiny in his gubernatorial bid, Kaine has changed positions.

"When Timothy Kaine was running for Lt. Governor, he supported abortion," Tobias explained. "Four years later, after seeing pro-abortion Democrats continue to lose election after election, Mr. Kaine now sings a different tune."

Tobias says she doesn’t believe Kaine’s supposed change of position is real.