In an election for the United States Senate in Virginia today, 8/21/06, incumbent Republican George Allen edges Democrat challenger James Webb 48% to 45%, according to an exclusive SurveyUSA poll conducted for W*USA-TV in Washington, DC.That would indicate that Virginians are not impressed with Sen. Allen's lame excuses for referring to a man of Indian descent as "Macaca." A glimmer of hope for the intolerance of intolerance.
Since an identical SurveyUSA poll released 6/28/06, Allen has lost 8 points and Webb has gained 8 points. Allen's lead has shrunk from 19 points to 3 points.
Interviewing for this poll began 8/18/06, one week after Allen singled out a Webb campaign worker at an Allen rally. Allen has lost support across all demographic groups, but in particular, among younger voters. He has gone from Plus 23 to Minus 17, a swing of 40 points. In Southeastern VA, Allen has gone from a 2:1 lead to a tie, a 31-point swing.
But only a glimmer. In the same poll, Virginians would vote 2-to-1 in favor of an amendment to the state's constitution to ban gay marriage or anything that resembles it. So they still have a long way to go, baby.
