Politico is reporting that Mark Warner may run for governor in 2013.

Virginia Sen Mark Warner has refused to rule out a 2013 gubernatorial bid and met on Saturday night with a reunion in Richmond of several hundred of his former advisers and supporters. Warner left Richmond in 2006 with stratospheric approval numbers and remains widely popular in the commonwealth.

Senator Mark Warner
Image Source: United States Senate

Public Policy Polling recently released the following outlook:

“If Mark Warner wants to be the next Governor of Virginia…he’s probably going to be the next Governor of Virginia. PPP’s newest poll finds him blowing away the Republican field of candidates with a 53-33 lead over Ken Cuccinelli, a 53-32 advantage over Bill Bolling, and a 58-19 edge over Tareq Salahi.”

“Warner continues to be the state’s most popular politician with a 52% approval rating to only 26% of voters who disapprove of him. He takes 13-29% of the Republican vote in these three match ups while losing only 2-4% of the Democratic vote, and he has a persistent double digit lead with independents as well. At this point the office looks to be Warner’s for the taking.”