As the scandal surrounding Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s (R) relationship with a top donor continues to deepen, a poll released Wednesday indicates that commonwealth voters are largely tuning out the controversy.
The Quinnipiac University poll found the Republican’s approval rating slipping to a new low at 46 percent, with 37 percent saying they disapprove of McDonnell.
But 60 percent of Virginia voters said McDonnell’s honesty and integrity are about the same as any other person in public life while nearly half said they haven’t heard enough about the scandal involving businessman Jonnie Williams, who showered the governor and his wife with multiple gifts.
More than 80 percent of voters who said they backed McDonnell in 2009 would not change their vote in light of the revelations. Sixty-one percent said McDonnell, who will leave office at the end of the year, should not resign compared with only 16 percent who said he should step down.
