McDonnell Leading by Nine Over Deeds in Virginia

Seventy-six percent of voters say they have definitely made up their minds, 6 percent say there is a good chance they might change their decision, and 15 percent say it is unlikely that they will do so.

Fifty-one percent describe McDonnell's views on most issues as "just about right" compared to 42 percent for Deeds. Forty-four percent consider Deeds too liberal and 37 percent see McDonnell as too conservative.

Voters trust Deeds more than McDonnell on issues of special concern to women. But McDonnell is trusted more on the bulk of other issues: the economy and jobs, transportation, the state budget, education, gun control and taxes. The two are within the margin of error of each other on the issues of abortion and health care.

The top state issues factoring into voters' decision-making are transportation and roads, job creation, health care, education and taxes. All those were cited by 85 percent or more of voters. The controversy over McDonnell's graduate thesis, in which he described homosexuals and working women as detrimental to the family, was cited by only 31 percent.