Below The Beltway

I didn’t get a chance to watch former Governor Mark Warner’s keynote address to the Democratic National Convention last night, but it appears that I didn’t miss much:
DENVER, Aug. 26 — Mark R. Warner held up Virginia as a model for good government and warned during his keynote address at the Democratic National Convention that [...]

The WaPo’s Mark Fisher notes that many of the people supporting Mark Warner for Senate are having a hard time rallying around Barack Obama:
In interviews in some evenly-split areas of Fairfax County, I encountered quite a few Democrats and Republicans alike who are Warner admirers, but have deep doubts about Obama. In some of those [...]

Two stories out today are stoking yet more speculation about the identity of Barack Obama’s Vice-Presidential running mate.
First, CNN reports that both Evan Bayh and Joe Biden have been given prominent speaking roles at the convention:
(CNN) — The two senators widely believed to be at the top of Barack Obama’s shortlist for VP have been [...]

If the latest Rasmussen poll is any indication, it’s about time for the Republicans to write off the Virginia Senate seat this year:
Former Democratic Governor Mark Warner’s lead continues to grow over former Republican Governor Jim Gilmore in Virginia’s race for the United States Senate. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds [...]

The Politico reports that Republicans inside and outside Virginia are less than enthusiastic about Jim Gilmore’s campaign for Virginia Senate:
Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore has barely begun his campaign for the Senate, but it’s almost impossible to find anyone in statewide Republican circles — outside of his closest allies — who thinks he can actually [...]

Based on the latest poll results, which are pretty similar to the last poll results, the answer would seem to be no:
Democrat Mark Warner continues to hold a solid lead over Republican Jim Gilmore in Virginia’s race for the United States Senate. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds Warner ahead 57% [...]

There may be 138 days left until Election Day, but the University of Virginia’s Larry Sabato has already called the race:
Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia professor known for his Election Day observations, today released his most recent take on the U.S. Senate races this November which includes the popular prediction that Virginia’s open seat [...]

Recent comments from John Ensign, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, seem to indicate that holding on to Virginia’s Senate seat isn’t a priority for the GOP:
Ensign identified the 10 most competitive races in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Alaska, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Virginia. Two — Virginia [...]

The latest Rasmussen poll continues to suggest that, when 2009 rolls around, Virgina will continue to be represented by a Senator named Warner:
Democrat Mark Warner has widened his lead against Republican Jim Gilmore in the race for Virginia’s senate seat. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey shows Warner earning 60% of the vote while Gilmore [...]

A Republican state legislator who helped shepherd car tax relief plan through the General Assembly is set to cross party lines and endorse Mark Warner for Senate:
RICHMOND, June 8 — Fairfax County Republican Vincent F. Callahan Jr., former chairman of the Virginia House Appropriations Committee and onetime ally of James S. Gilmore III, said [...]