A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows Mark R. Warner still holds a solid lead over former Gov. Jim Gilmore in their expected U.S. Senate showdown.

The telephone survey found Warner, a Democrat, with a 55 to 39 percent lead against Gilmore, down slightly from February when he led 57 percent to 37 percent.

The poll summary states: "The economy is the most important issue for 38 percent of Virginia voters. Just 17 percent give the economy a good or excellent rating, while 37 percent give it a poor rating. Seventy-percent percent think the economy is getting worse, while just 9 percent say it's getting better.

The War in Iraq is the most important issue for 21 percent of voters. Forty-percent percent of Virginia voters say the situation in Iraq will improve in the next six months, while 31 percent believe it will worsen."

Another recent Rasmussen Reports survey also found that Sen. John McCain, the Republican candidate for president, "holds significant leads over both potential democratic candidates in general election match-ups in the Old Dominion."

The poll can be found here

— Seth McLaughlin, Virginia politics reporter, The Washington Times