Republican candidate Robert F. McDonnell has opened a decisive lead over state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds in the Virginia gubernatorial race, according to the latest poll, released Tuesday.
The poll from Public Policy Polling, a nonpartisan Raleigh, N.C.-based firm, shows Mr. McDonnell with 51 percent support compared with 37 percent for Mr. Deeds. The 14-point lead is up from six points a month ago.
Mr. Deeds is also combating Democratic voter fatigue, according to the poll, which shows only 42 percent of the people who voted for President Obama intend to vote in the fall, while 60 percent of the people who voted for Arizona Sen. John McCain are planning to head to the polls.
The downward trend experienced by Mr. Deeds is similar to Mr. Obama’s diminished approval numbers and is reflected also in New Jersey Democrat Jon Corzine’s poll numbers: The Garden State governor trails his opponent, Republican Christopher J. Christie, by 14 points.
In the other two statewide races in Virginia, Republicans are also leading their opponents. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling is ahead of former state Finance Secretary Jody Wagner, 48 percent to 34 percent in the race for lieutenant governor. State Sen. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II is ahead of Delegate Stephen C. Shannon 45 percent to 32 percent in the race for attorney general.
“As Barack Obama’s approval rating in Virginia declines, we’re finding that Bob McDonnell is the beneficiary,” said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling. The poll also showed that 81 percent of those polled are solidly committed to their choice.