http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-71222sy0feb14,0,5123077.story

In Va., love and politics mix

Republicans are more in love than Democrats, but they can still kiss the governor's mansion goodbye.

BY HUGH LESSIG
(804) 225-7345

February 14 2006

RICHMOND -- Forget mud slinging and attack ads. When it comes to politics, all you need is love.

A new survey suggests that Virginians who confessed to being in love were more likely to have voted for governor last fall. They were more likely to have watched a speech or volunteered for a candidate.

Lovers were less likely to have watched a televised debate - too busy on the couch, perhaps.

The poll also suggests that Cupid is more Republican than Democrat, but he's apparently lousy at getting out the vote.

More than 84 percent of Republicans said they were in love, compared to 75 percent for Democrats.

That trend extended to the two major-party candidates for governor.

Republican Jerry Kilgore mustered an 88 percent love quotient among his supporters. Democrat Timothy Kaine's supporters weighed in at 79 percent. That should have worked in Kilgore's favor, but he lost.

Must have been that negative campaign.

"While Republicans may have lost the past two elections for governor, they can take comfort from the fact that they currently lead Virginia's love parade," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, which conducted the survey in November.

The findings reflect the marriage factor, authorities said. Married people are more likely to be politically active, and yes, married people are more likely to be in love.

The numbers likely will spark more questions, although hopefully not Sabato's. "Can political party dating services be far behind?"