SurveyUSA, in a poll conducted Oct. 27, has McDonnell ahead by 58 percent to 41 percent. Public Policy Polling, in a survey conducted Oct. 23-26, puts McDonnell ahead 55 percent to 40 percent with 5 percent undecided.

The polls follow on the heels of a Washington Post survey conducted Oct. 22-25 that had McDonnell in front by 55 percent to 44 percent.

SurveyUSA said McDonnell gets a big boost from independents, who are backing him by 60 percent to 38 percent. McDonnell also has a commanding lead in Northern Virginia, where Democrats had been making gains and is a part of the state on which Deeds had been counting. PPP has McDonnell's margin among independents at 59 percent to 34 percent.

PPP says Deeds is suffering from the growing perception that he has lost the race, with the number of Democrats likely to vote falling from 37 percent a month ago to 31 percent. Also, Deeds' support among fellow Democrats is 84 percent, compared to the 94 percent backing McDonnell enjoys from Republicans.