Toss-up: New poll has McDonnell-Deeds race too close to call
What was a nine-point advantage for Bob McDonnell in the Virginia governor’s race two weeks ago is now down to two, according to a new poll by Rasmussen Reports released Thursday afternoon.
The poll has McDonnell’s lead at 48 percent to 46 percent for Creigh Deeds. McDonnell led two weeks ago by a 51 percent-to-42 percent margin.
The shift seems to be the result of voter reaction to the thesis that McDonnell wrote in 1989 as a 34-year-old graduate student at the conservative Regent University that laid out a blueprint for social-conservative action in the political arena that also spelled out McDonnell’s views on working women, reproductive choice and gays and lesbians.
Fifty-two percent of those surveyed told Rasmussen that the thesis is at least somewhat important in terms of how they will vote. The number of unaffiliated voters who consider the thesis to be important is 47 percent.
Gov. Tim Kaine’s approval rating in the poll was at 52 percent. President Barack Obama’s approval rating in Virginia is at 49 percent.
- Story by Chris Graham
It’s two points with leaners, five points with first impressions.
August it was eight points with leaners, nine points with first impressions.
Didn’t you say something about pollsters and how they got leaners to decide the other day?
I did. Didn’t you say something about the race being over the other day?
I did. But I’m a Fishersville Mike blogger, just like Creigh Deeds is a Creigh Deeds Democrat. What that means, I don’t know.
I’m a Chris Graham Chris Graham. As opposed to being a Fishersville Mike Chris Graham. Or a Creigh Deeds Chris Graham.
I think Deeds was asked if he was an “Obama Democrat” and he came out with the “Creigh Deeds Democrat” line. So you can be a “Chris Graham Democrat,” but not a “Creigh Deeds Chris Graham.”
But I want to be a “Chris Graham Chris Graham.”
OK, I’ll be a “Chris Graham Democrat.” As opposed to a “Creigh Deeds Democrat.”
I’ve said all along the race will be won in the last two months of the campaign. The Rasmussen Report is fairly reliable. The numbers should indicate this race and the Lt. Gov. and AG will be close. Democrat Wagner’s campaign is exploiting Lt. Gov Bolling’s lack of attendance for state meetings might tip the scales there.Democrat Shannon is gaining momentum as well. Lastly, we need to remember know one predicted Creigh Deeds would win the Democrat primary by such a large margin either.
Without a doubt, the WaPo’s publication of McDonnell thesis has become a turning point.