A Public Policy Polling survey conducted Oct. 16-19 has McDonnell ahead, 52 percent to 40 percent, with 7 percent undecided. Ninety-two percent of voters say they are solidly committed to their choice.

A SurveyUSA poll, conducted Oct. 17-19, shows McDonnell with his biggest lead yet over Deeds, 59 percent to 40 percent and 1 percent undecided.

Nearly all recent polls have shown McDonnell holding a steady lead, but none of them had the margin in double-digits except for a WVEC/Virginian-Pilot/Christopher Newport University survey this week that put the lead at 44.7 percent to 30.9 percent. But that poll had 22 percent undecided because it didn't count voters who were leaning one way or another.

In the PPP survey, both men have similar levels of support from members of their own parties, but McDonnell has a commanding 60 percent to 31 percent lead among independents.

"Creigh Deeds is in a pretty dire position right now," said PPP's Dean Debnam. "Democrats aren't very enthusiastic about this election. He has to hope that visits on his behalf from folks like Barack Obama and Bill Clinton get a lot more of the party's base out to the polls."

McDonnell is viewed favorably by 56 percent of voters and unfavorably by 35 percent. Deeds, who has been the target of an onslaught of McDonnell ads, is viewed unfavorably by 48 percent and favorably by 41 percent.

The SurveyUSA poll said McDonnell holds a 71 percent to 27 percent lead among independents who made up a third of the sample. While conservatives back McDonnell and liberals back Deeds by similar large margins, Deeds' lead among moderates is 55 percent to 44 percent.