If Democrat Mark Warner jumps into the Virginia Senate race for 2008, he will start out with a large lead over two Republicans expected to campaign for the job.

In a match-up of former Virginia Governors, a Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds Warner leading Jim Gilmore by twenty percentage points, 54% to 34%. Warner also starts the season with a comfortable lead over Virginia Congressman Tom Davis. The Rasmussen Reports poll shows Warner attracting 57% of the vote while Davis earns 30%.

In 2008, Virginia voters will select a new face to replace the retiring Republican Senator John Warner. The retiring Republican Senator is not related to the Democratic Governor who might seek to replace him.

A separate release shows that the Presidential race for Virginia’s Electoral Votes is much more competitive at this time.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Virginia voters say that Iraq will be a Very Important issue for determining their Congressional vote in 2008. Seventy-three percent (73%) Government Ethics and Corruption will be a Very Important issue while 71% say the same about the economy.

Iraq and Health Care are the top issues for Democratic voters in Virginia. Among Republicans, Iraq and Ethics are the top concerns. For Virginia voters not affiliated with either major party, the economy is the top issue followed by Iraq. Nationally, voters tend to prefer Democrats over Republicans on ten key issues tracked by Rasmussen Reports.

Governor Warner, who initially considered seeking the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2008, is viewed favorably by 68% of the state’s voters and unfavorably by 28%.

Governor Gilmore, who recently dropped his long-shot bid for the Republican Presidential nomination, is viewed favorably by 49% and unfavorably by 42%.

Davis, as a Congressman, is less well known. Forty-three percent (43%) offer a positive assessment of Davis, 35% have a negative opinion, and 22% don’t know enough to have an opinion one way or the other.

The survey was conducted in partnership with Fox Television Stations, Inc.

A separate release shows that the Presidential race for Virginia’s Electoral Votes is much more competitive at this time.

Surveys were released today for the Presidential race in Minnesota, and Massachusetts along with the Senate race poll for Minnesota.

Rasmussen Reports has also released Election 2008 state polling results in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, Florida, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oregon, Colorado, New Hampshire, New York and Illinois.

In Primary Polls, Clinton leads all Democrats in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida.

The Republican Primary picture is more muddled. Romney leads in New Hampshire, Thompson leads in South Carolina, and Giuliani is on top in Florida.

See survey questions and top-line results. Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.