A new poll out this morning shows Bob McDonnell extending his lead in the Virginia gubernatorial race two weeks before Election Day. McDonnell now leads his Democratic opponent, Creigh Deeds 49-41. Ten percent of voters remain undecided in the contest.
The poll of 605 registered voters was conducted by Clarus research over the weekend. In Clarus’ last poll, taken in Sept., McDonnell led by 5 points with 20% undecided.
Internals from the poll show McDonnell gaining among women, independents and voters outside the populous D.C. suburbs. Despite weeks of Democratic attacks over his 1989 master’s thesis — attacks which focused on his negative views of women in the workplace at the time — McDonnell now leads among women by one point.
Inside the poll (from the Clarus release):
* Despite heavy Democratic attacks on McDonnell’s views on the role of women in society, McDonnell now edges Deeds among women by one point, 45-44 percent. McDonnell posts a sizable 14-point lead among men
* McDonnell leads Deeds in every major demographic group in the Commonwealth except Northern Virginians, voters under 30 and African Americans.
* Deeds holds a massive 72-point lead among African Americans, winning this vote 79-7 percent. He beats McDonnell 50-43 percent in Northern Virginia and 48-41 percent among voters 18-29.
* McDonnell leads white voters by a solid 26 points, 58-32 percent. He also carries the Southeastern/Central part of the state 45-42 percent and the Southwest/Western region by a thumping 28 points, 57-29 percent.
* Among voters 65 and older, McDonnell beats Deeds by a wide 54-37 percent margin.
* Regionally, Deeds has improved his position in Northern Virginia since the mid-September poll, going from 45 percent to 50 percent while McDonnell has moved from 40 percent to 43 percent in the region. Deeds has improved his support in the Southeastern/Central part of the state, going from 36 percent to 42 percent while McDonnell has increased his strength from 41 percent to 46 percent.
* McDonnell leads Republicans 89-4 percent. Deeds wins Democrats 86-6 percent.
* Fifty-one percent of voters who remain undecided in the gubernatorial race said they don’t know enough about the candidates to make a decision and 24 percent said they have doubts about both candidates.
