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McDonnell leads Va. gov. race by 15 in latest poll
07/29/09 10:14 AM ET
Bob McDonnell (R-Va.) has opened up a big lead in the Virginia governor's race, beating his Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds by 15 in the latest poll tracking the campaign.
The poll taken by southwestern Virginia's WDBJ News7 and SurveyUSA showed McDonnell carrying 55% of all voters while Deeds only garnered 40%. Five percent of voters remained undecided.
Several previous polls by SurveyUSA showed McDonnell leading by between one and six points, so Wednesday's poll shows some real movement.
McDonnell eclipsed the 50 percent mark for the first time in the race. The poll was the first one taken in two weeks. The last two were taken by Rasmussen in mid-July and Public Policy Polling earlier that month.
McDonnell also gained in Rasmussen's poll two weeks ago, turning a six-point deficit from right after the primary into a three-point lead.
Deeds was expected to get a bit of a post-primary bump after easily winning a tough primary and emerging considerably unscathed. But even though he appeared to get a momentary bump, it hasn't translated into anything long-term, and now he looks to be in a bit of trouble with just more than three months to go.
McDonnell recently captured the endorsement of businesswoman Sheila Crump Johnson, one of Gov. Tim Kaine's (D) biggest donors.
Democrats have held the Virginia Governor's Mansion since 2002.
Virginia is one of two states holding their gubernatorial election this year, the other being New Jersey.
-Aaron Blake contributed to this report
The poll taken by southwestern Virginia's WDBJ News7 and SurveyUSA showed McDonnell carrying 55% of all voters while Deeds only garnered 40%. Five percent of voters remained undecided.
Several previous polls by SurveyUSA showed McDonnell leading by between one and six points, so Wednesday's poll shows some real movement.
McDonnell eclipsed the 50 percent mark for the first time in the race. The poll was the first one taken in two weeks. The last two were taken by Rasmussen in mid-July and Public Policy Polling earlier that month.
McDonnell also gained in Rasmussen's poll two weeks ago, turning a six-point deficit from right after the primary into a three-point lead.
Deeds was expected to get a bit of a post-primary bump after easily winning a tough primary and emerging considerably unscathed. But even though he appeared to get a momentary bump, it hasn't translated into anything long-term, and now he looks to be in a bit of trouble with just more than three months to go.
McDonnell recently captured the endorsement of businesswoman Sheila Crump Johnson, one of Gov. Tim Kaine's (D) biggest donors.
Democrats have held the Virginia Governor's Mansion since 2002.
Virginia is one of two states holding their gubernatorial election this year, the other being New Jersey.
-Aaron Blake contributed to this report
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