Updated, 1:13 p.m.

New polling confirms Virginia is home to one of the tightest Senate races in the country, and all indications are that it will remain a dead heat well into next fall.

A Quinnipiac University Polling Institute survey released Thursday found former governors Tim Kaine (D) and George Allen (R) statistically tied, with Kaine taking 43 percent to Allen’s 42 percent. 

“Perhaps the only surprising thing about these numbers, given the expectation of a ‘to the finish’ tussle for the Senate, is that one in 10 Virginia voters remains undecided. Those are the folks who will decide the identity of Virginia’s next U.S. Senator,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

The last three public polls released have shown the race within the margin of error. The Quinnipiac poll was taken June 21-27 with 1,434 registered voters and a 2.6-point margin of error.

Kaine’s campaign immediately used the result to rally supporters to donate before the fundraising deadline Thursday night, as the former Democratic National Committee chairman started well behind Allen in the money race.

“A brand new poll released today shows this race is a dead heat,” Kaine adviser Mo Elleithee wrote in an email. “And with Karl Rove’s shadowy front group already airing attack ads in Virginia, I wanted to be sure you saw Governor Kaine’s message about the importance of enlisting 2,500 online donors by midnight tonight.”

Allen spokesman Bill Riggs said his boss is working on building support on the ground. “We know this is going to be a tight race that will come down to the wire.  That’s why Governor Allen is traveling all across Virginia building the strong grassroots team it will take to win,” he said.