Virginia Senate: The race at a glance
Former Sen. George Allen wants his old seat back. He's going to have to fight former Gov. Tim Kaine to get it
![Tim Kaine and George Allen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DWGqCLLpC22D53SfcdnjQX-415-80.jpg)
In 2006, when Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), the son of a legendary Washington Redskins coach, lost what was seen as a safe election to Jim Webb, a little-known former Navy Secretary, many politicos wrote off the Republican's political career for dead. (A big part of the problem: Allen infamously called an Indian-American Webb staffer "macaca.") But six years later, Webb is retiring, and Allen is back, running neck-and-neck in the polls with popular former Gov. Tim Kaine (D). The two giants of Virginia politics are fighting one of the closest-watched contests in the country, and the result in Virginia could decide control of the Senate — and the White House.
THE CANDIDATES
Tim Kaine (D)
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Former governor and Democratic National Committee head
Age: 54
George Allen (R)
Former U.S. senator and governor
Age: 60
KEY ISSUES
Allen and Kaine are both reasonably popular and well-known in Virginia, and both have won statewide elections in the past. As in many close races this year, the Republican is trying to lash the Democrat to President Obama. In this case, that's a plausible line of attack since Kaine was Obama's DNC chairman from 2009 to 2011, but also arguably unrewarding, since Obama is pretty popular in Virginia and might well win the state. Among the specific aspects of the anti-Kaine attacks: Allen opposes ObamaCare and Obama's DREAM immigration order, and accuses Kaine of wanting to raise taxes and abandoning Virginia when he was both governor and DNC chief. Kaine is focusing on Allen's record in the Senate, blaming him for exploding the budget deficit and being hyper-partisan, and for backing an anti-abortion "Personhood" law. Kaine is also touting his own bipartisan accomplishments and commitment to protecting Medicare and Social Security.
REAL CLEAR POLITICS POLL AVERAGE
Kaine: 49.0 percent
Allen: 44.3 percent
The race was basically tied for more than a year, until September, when Kaine started pulling ahead. But "Kaine's fate is most likely tied to President Obama's at the top of the ticket," says Huffington Post Pollster, and its unclear yet if Kaine's numbers will come down in line with Obama's recent decline. One of the three big election forecasters (Larry Sabato) rates the race "Lean Democratic," while the other two (Charlie Cook and Stu Rothenberg) call it a tossup. The New York Times' Nate Silver rates it "Likely Democratic."
CASH ON HAND (as of Sept. 30):
Kaine: $1 million on hand; $14.9 million total
Allen: $2.6 million on hand; $11.6 million total
DUELING ADS:
Tim Kaine: "Great Team"
George Allen: "Accountable"
More races at a glance:
Massachusetts Senate: Scott Brown vs. Elizabeth Warren
Nebraska Senate: Deb Fischer vs. Bob Kerrey
North Dakota Senate: Rick Berg vs. Heidi Heitkamp
Connecticut Senate: Linda McMahon vs. Chris Murphy
Montana Senate: Jon Tester vs. Denny Rehberg
Read more political coverage at The Week's 2012 Election Center.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
How Black organizations quickly pivoted and mobilized for Kamala Harris
In the spotlight Harris has a shot at being the first Black woman to lead the Democratic ticket
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published