For those interested in Virginia's gubernatorial race...

The race for Virginia governor is a tossup, according to The Times-Dispatch Poll.

Lt. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has a statistically insignificant lead over former Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, according to the survey, which shows Kaine is helped by the broad popularity of the fellow Democrat he hopes to succeed, Gov. Mark R. Warner.

The poll also suggests Republican Kilgore is losing GOP and independent votes to state Sen. H. Russell Potts Jr., a Republican state senator running for governor as an independent.

Kaine had 38 percent to 37 percent for Kilgore. Potts was favored by 9 percent. Sixteen percent were undecided.

Because Kaine's advantage is within the poll's margin of error -- plus or minus 4 percentage points -- the contest with Kilgore could be considered a dead heat.

[...]

Ten months ago, Mason-Dixon put Kilgore 5 percentage points ahead of Kaine.

Link.

This race, which will be decided in November, will have ramifications for 2008. Should Kaine eke out a victory, Governor Warner's presidential ambitions could get a real boost; if Kilgore and the Republicans retake the statehouse, it could be a boon to the GOP across the nation by providing a momentum boost.