A new SurveyUSA poll of the Virginia gubernatorial race gives Republican former state Attorney General Bob McDonnell a big lead over his Democratic opponent, state Sen. Creigh Deeds:
The numbers: McDonnell 55%, Deeds 40%. If McDonnell were to win this, he would pick this swing state up for the GOP, away from term-limited Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine.
The previous SurveyUSA poll, which was conducted right before the Democratic primary in early June, gave McDonnell a narrower lead of 47%-43%, which has apparently expanded in the nearly two months since then.
From the pollster’s analysis: “14% of those who say they voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential election say they will vote for Republican McDonnell in the gubernatorial contest; 9% of John McCain voters say they will cross over and vote for Democrat Deeds.”
