Roanoke Poll: Sen. Kaine Has Big Lead Over GOP Challengers

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., holds double-digit leads over each of his three potential Republican challengers, according to a Roanoke College poll released Tuesday.

Here is how the survey breaks down in advance of the June 12 Republican primary in Virginia:

• 45 percent of voters back Kaine over Republican Nick Freitas, who is favored by 30 percent.
• 44 percent favor Kaine over the GOP’s Corey Stewart, who is supported by 33 percent.
• 45 percent support Kaine over Republican E.W. Jackson, who is backed by 30 percent.
• 49 percent of Virginia voters disapprove of President Donald Trump's job performance, while 36 percent approve.

"The beginning of summer is not the time that most folks tune into politics," said Harry Wilson, director of the Roanoke College Poll. "The three Republicans in an important, but not 'newsy,' race are mostly unknown, even among Republicans. Handicapping that election today (a feat we did not attempt) would be fraught with error. Even looking ahead to November, today's poll numbers are more a reflection of party identification and name recognition than anything else."

The poll, conducted May 20-30, surveyed 555 people. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.2 percent.

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