A March 6 poll of 1,900 voters by Quinnipiac University, in Hamden, Conn., ranks two Virginia politicians among the Top 10 most popular political leaders in the country. Former Gov. Mark R. Warner ranked 7th, with a rating of 50.7 on a 1-to-100 scale. Sen. George Allen ranked 10th, with a 48.6 rating. Both ranked ahead of President George Bush and Veep Dick Cheney.
Warner should be encouraged that he edged out New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, with a 50.4 rating. That makes him the most popular figure among likely Democratic contenders for the 2008 presidential nomination.
Allen has a lot stiffer competition should he seek the GOP nomination. Former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani ranked 14 points higher, and Sen. John McCain 12 points higher.
(See more commentary at the Virginia Belle blog.)
