McDonnell Has Double-Digit Lead Over Deeds in Virginia

SurveyUSA has consistently show McDonnell comfortably ahead and a Rasmussen reports poll, conducted Sept. 29, had McDonnell out in front by 10 points. By contrast, Public Policy Polling, in a survey, conducted Sept. 25-28 had McDonnell up by 5 points and a Washington Post poll had McDonnell's edge at 4 points, but that was way back in mid-September.

Earlier last month, Deeds was on the offensive, hammering away at McDonnell about his 1989 graduate thesis criticizing homosexuals and working mothers as detrimental to families.

But Deeds has been on the defensive lately, with a Washington post article headlined "Deeds: From Patching Fence to Straddling It," and beginning "Creigh Deeds was stammering, as is often his way when trying to explain a change in one of his political positions. He indicated that he felt conflicted over a stance, not the first time during his campaign for Virginia governor. "
McDonnell leads 62 percent to 36 percent among men while the two split the female vote at 49 percent to 47 percent in Deeds' favor. White voters, who make up 78 percent of the sample, back McDonnell 62 percent to 34 percent while black voters, 15 percent of the sample, support Deeds by 77 percent to 17 percent.

The two men command roughly the same level of support from voters in their respective parties, but independents, who make up 30 percent of the sample, back McDonnell 54 percent to 39 percent.