Va. Gubernatorial Candidates in Dead Heat
By LARRY O'DELL
Associated Press Writer
October 8, 2005, 6:20 AM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. -- The Democratic and Republican candidates for governor, locked in a statistical dead heat, will go head-to-head Sunday night in their final debate.
The statewide televised debate provides Republican Jerry Kilgore, a former attorney general, and Democrat Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine an opportunity to break open a tight race.
"This is the closest election we've seen perhaps since 1989," said George Mason University political analyst Mark Rozell. "If one candidate is widely viewed as the victor, it could have a snowball effect. I give a little more importance to this debate than most."
Although the final debate is on TV, it faces some stiff competition for viewers. The 7 p.m. start could conflict with the end of the Washington Redskins' game and the major league baseball playoffs.
But even if the viewing audience is modest, Rozell said, voters' perceptions can be shaped by what others say about the debate. That means Kilgore can ill afford a repeat of his performance last month.
In that debate, Kilgore dodged what he said was a "hypothetical" question about whether he would sign a law banning abortion in Virginia. Debate moderator Tim Russert of NBC's "Meet the Press" then asked Kilgore if he would veto a tax increase. Kilgore said yes.
"That's a hypothetical question," Russert interjected, prompting laughter from an audience that seemed largely sympathetic to Kaine.
"Word of mouth among political insiders was really negative regarding Kilgore's performance overall and his response to that one question in particular," Rozell said. "He has another debate to define himself and recover."
Incumbent Gov. Mark R. Warner, a Democrat, is prevented by the state constitution from seeking a second consecutive term. The November election is one of only two governor's races in the nation this year. The other is in New Jersey.
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Associated Press Writer
October 8, 2005, 6:20 AM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. -- The Democratic and Republican candidates for governor, locked in a statistical dead heat, will go head-to-head Sunday night in their final debate.
The statewide televised debate provides Republican Jerry Kilgore, a former attorney general, and Democrat Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine an opportunity to break open a tight race.
"This is the closest election we've seen perhaps since 1989," said George Mason University political analyst Mark Rozell. "If one candidate is widely viewed as the victor, it could have a snowball effect. I give a little more importance to this debate than most."
Although the final debate is on TV, it faces some stiff competition for viewers. The 7 p.m. start could conflict with the end of the Washington Redskins' game and the major league baseball playoffs.
But even if the viewing audience is modest, Rozell said, voters' perceptions can be shaped by what others say about the debate. That means Kilgore can ill afford a repeat of his performance last month.
In that debate, Kilgore dodged what he said was a "hypothetical" question about whether he would sign a law banning abortion in Virginia. Debate moderator Tim Russert of NBC's "Meet the Press" then asked Kilgore if he would veto a tax increase. Kilgore said yes.
"That's a hypothetical question," Russert interjected, prompting laughter from an audience that seemed largely sympathetic to Kaine.
"Word of mouth among political insiders was really negative regarding Kilgore's performance overall and his response to that one question in particular," Rozell said. "He has another debate to define himself and recover."
Incumbent Gov. Mark R. Warner, a Democrat, is prevented by the state constitution from seeking a second consecutive term. The November election is one of only two governor's races in the nation this year. The other is in New Jersey.
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