On Tue, 15 Oct 2013 18:36:52 -0400, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

Poll: McAuliffe Tops Cuccinelli by 7 in Virginia Race
Government shutdown helps McAuliffe over Cuccinelli in Virginia

By Rebekah Metzler
October 15, 2013 RSS Feed Print

Comment ()

Virginia candidates for governor, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, left and
Republican Ken Cuccinelli, talk during a forum at the University of
Richmond on Oct. 10, 2013, in Richmond, Va., prior to the November election.

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, left, is
leading his Republican counterpart Ken Cuccinelli, right, by 7 points,
thanks in part to a polling boost from the partial government shutdown.

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe is
benefiting politically from the federal government shutdown, as he
continues to lead Republican opponent, Virginia Attorney General Ken
Cuccinelli, ahead of the Nov. 5 election, according to a new poll
released Tuesday.

McAuliffe, a prolific Democratic fundraiser and businessman, leads
Cuccinelli 46 percent to 39 percent. Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis
garners 11 percent and 4 percent of likely voters remain undecided,
according to a poll by Christopher Newport University.

"The federal government shutdown is definitely motivating some voters
against Cuccinelli, who already had a tea party problem with
independents and business-minded Republicans," said Quentin Kidd,
director of the Wason Center for Public Policy in a memo accompanying
the poll results.

It was widely expected a government shutdown, which has a significant
effect on the concentration of federal workers who live in Northern
Virginia, could hurt Cuccinelli because polling shows Americans holding
the Republican Party more responsible than Democrats. Of those following
the shutdown closely, 50 percent say they support McAuliffe versus 36
percent for Cuccinelli.

But the poll also shows Cuccinelli continuing to struggle with women
voters. Democrats have been relentless in portraying his pro-life
position as anti-woman. McAuliffe enjoys a 14 percent gender gap, with
51 percent of women supporting him compared to 37 percent for
Cuccinelli. Support for McAuliffe among independents has dropped some
from a similar poll released Oct. 8, but he still has a 6 percent lead
over Cuccinelli with those likely voters as well.

Sarvis' support might end up being the most critical factor for
Cuccinelli, however. His supporters would be most likely come from
Cuccinelli's base and double-digit support for his third-party candidacy
is seriously damaging Cuccinelli's efforts.

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http://tinyurl.com/l7a5pr5

Can't believe it's only 7. McAuliffe was more impressive as a
strategist than he is as a candidate. He should be destroying that
sorry excuse for a human.