With time running out before the candidacy filing deadline, incumbent Republican Sen. John Warner currently faces no major opposition in the upcoming fall elections.
Warner previously faced a contest with retired Army Lt. Gen. Claudia J. Kennedy, who was seeking the Democratic nomination. Kennedy, however, dropped out of the race after the Sept. 11 attacks.
"General Kennedy felt that she could contribute to the public welfare in other ways," said Mary Broz, press secretary for the Democratic Party of Virginia.
No other Democrats have identified themselves as possible opponents in the senatorial elections, Broz said.
"Warner is a formidable candidate," said Scott Keeter, director of the Center for Public Policy at George Mason University. "He takes positions that are occasionally counter to his party's position, which has endeared him to independents."
Warner Campaign Manager Ken Hutcheson agreed.
"Warner has shown a willingness to stake out positions that may not have always toed the party line," Hutcheson said. "A good example of this would be his opposition of Oliver North in 1994."
North was former Democratic Sen. Charles S. Robb's Republican opponent in 1994.
In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, Warner's support of the war on terrorism and his involvement in the military might have contributed to his popularity, according to political analysts.
Warner served in the Navy during World War II and now serves as the ranking minority member on the Senate's Armed Services Committee.
Warner's record, however, marks the main reason why he probably will be re-elected this fall, Hutcheson said.
"His record of accomplishment is hard to criticize," he added. "His work has touched everyone in Virginia - not only with the military, but with transportation and education."
Current Gov. Mark R. Warner was John Warner's opponent in the 1996 election. Although Mark Warner lost the election, he garnered a much larger number of votes than was expected, Keeter said.
"No one in the Democratic Party currently has Mark Warner's stature or money, but he showed that defeating Warner would not be impossible," he said.
Both Keeter and Larry J. Sabato, professor of government and foreign affairs, said incumbency also was a reason why Warner's chances of re-election remain high.
"Seniority is worth millions and millions," Sabato said.
The two political analysts said the strength of Warner's credentials are such that Warner most likely would return to office in the fall, even should a Democratic challenger emerge.
Broz acknowledged that no candidates have stepped forward thus far, but did not rule out the possibility of a latecomer entering the race.
"We had a lot of momentum coming out of 2001," Broz said, referring to the Democratic victories of Warner and Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine last November.
"The filing deadline isn't until April," Sabato added. "Wait and see until the deadline passes."
Warner is an alumnus of the University's School of Law.
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