RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A new poll shows U.S. Sen. Mark Warner enjoying a dominant lead over his Republican opponent Ed Gillespie.

A survey released Tuesday by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University shows Warner, a Democrat, up 53 percent to Gillespie’s 31 percent among likely voters.

Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis polled at 5 percent.

Polls have consistently shown Warner, a former governor seeking a second term as senator, with large leads over Gillespie since the former Republican National Committee chairman and lobbyist entered the race in January.

There were 819 voters interviewed between Sept. 2 and Sept. 7 for the poll, which reported a margin of error of 3.4 percent.

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