More than half of Virginians approve of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's job performance despite the state's budget woes, according to a poll conducted for the Times-Dispatch.

Statewide, 54 percent say the governor's performance is either "excellent" or "good" according to a survey conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research Inc.

Kaine, who was among the candidates that Barack Obama vetted for vice president, maintains essentially the same favorability rating he had in July 2006.

Ordinarily Virginia's Democratic statewide officeholders are strongest in Northern Virginia. Kaine's favorability rating is 58 percent in the populous Washington suburbs, but it is even higher -- 60 percent -- in Southwest Virginia.

Kaine, a national co-chairman of Obama's campaign, has helped the Illinois senator and his running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., on campaign swings in both regions.

Mason-Dixon interviewed 625 registered voters by telephone from Monday through Wednesday. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.