Maybe, Warner should run against Allen...

[MHS2002]

An Emerson College poll conducted 2/13-16; surveyed 420 likely VA voters (margin of error +/- 4.8%).

Sen. General Matchup                              Warner Fav/Unfav
                        All    Dem  GOP  Ind         Fav                71%
Warner           48% 93%  11% 73%        Unfav             15
Allen               41      5      81    14
Undec/Oth      11      2        8    14

A couple of problems with this poll:
1. Who/what is Emerson College? No Emerson Colleges anywhere near VA as far as I know. There's one near Boston, fwiw.
2. Warner getting 73% of independents? Allen getting only 81% of Republicans? Forgive me if I am a little skeptical of those numbers.

My feelings: this poll kinda sucks. Plus, Allen is quite popular here, as you guys have stated. It won't be easy for Warner to win; he'll be fighting both incumbency and a popular Senator. Is it possible? Yes. Probable? I would say no.

[MHS2002]

Allen was a popular governor in the mid 90s as well as a popular Senator today. Combine those factors with the fact that Virginia still leans a little to the right and it's my belief that Allen probably has about 3-4 points on Warner right now, IMO.

[MHS2002]

You are right, according to that poll Warner has some high approval ratings. That poll also says he would grab 7 of every 10 independents in a head to head matchup, which is not going to happen.

As far as the gubernatorial race goes, I'm skeptical of the Senate poll that was done, so I am skeptical of their gubernatorial poll as well. Also, there's a very good chance my state Senator, Russ Potts, may run as an "independent Republican" 3rd party candidate and throw the whole race out of whack. I confess I haven't followed this race as closely (I don't think many Virginians have either), so the Kilgore lead over Kaine may just be knee-jerk responses to the (R) and (D) next to the candidate's names.

[MHS2002]

...he is gunning for John Warner's seat once he retires in 2008. 

Don't be so sure Warner retires in 2008. I haven't heard anything that would suggest this is his last term.