McAuliffe opens up double-digit lead over Cuccinelli in Virginia
governor’s race

http://tinyurl.com/kddha3o

Democrat Terry McAuliffe has opened a double-digit lead over Republican
Ken Cuccinelli II in the race for Virginia governor, in a new poll
capturing increasing dissatisfaction among voters with Cuccinelli’s
party and his conservative views.

According to a new Washington Post/Abt SRBI poll, McAuliffe tops
Cuccinelli 51 percent to 39 percent among likely voters in the Nov. 5
election. McAuliffe led by eight percentage points in a poll taken last
month. Libertarian Robert Sarvis, who has capitalized on voter unrest
with the two major-party candidates, is at 8 percent, according to the
new poll.

The margin between the two major-party candidates is driven by a huge
gender gap. Among men, the two candidates are running even, with
Cuccinelli at 45 percent and McAuliffe at 44 percent. But among women,
Cuccinelli trails by 24 points — 58 percent to 34 percent.

McAuliffe’s substantial lead puts him in a position to break a long
pattern in Virginia gubernatorial races. In the nine most recent
elections, the party holding the White House has lost the governor’s
race. Cuccinelli’s weaknesses, more than McAuliffe’s strengths, put that
streak in jeopardy, according to one question in the poll.

McAuliffe’s strong position also could boost Democrats’ chances of
sweeping statewide offices for the first time in a quarter-century — and
of making substantial gains in the GOP-dominated House of Delegates.
According to the poll, the race for lieutenant governor is equally
lopsided for the Democrat, while the Democratic candidate for attorney
general is just three points ahead of the Republican — within the margin
of error.

Cuccinelli’s image has deteriorated consistently during the campaign,
damaged by not only perceptions of his conservatism but also a backlash
against the recent partial shutdown of the federal government, for which
a majority of voters blame Republicans in Congress. The gift scandal
that has engulfed Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) also has contributed to
Cuccinelli’s problems.

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It's nice to see a Southern State telling Republicans to take their war
against women and shove it. I wonder which Southern State will be next.