Democrat Creigh Deeds is catching up to Republican Bob McDonnell in the Virginia governor's race by winning over some undecided voters, according to a Rasmussen Reports survey conducted Sept. 16.
The poll, which canvassed 500 likely voters in the Nov. 3 election, gave McDonnell 48 percent and Deeds 46 percent, which is effectively a dead heat. Recent polls have given McDonnell, a former state Attorney General, a clear lead over Deeds, a state senator.
"The tightening of the race over the past two weeks comes from a shift in the views of voters who might change their minds," according to the poll analysis. "Currently, those voters are leaning in Deeds' direction."
Just over half of respondents (52 percent) said that a controversial graduate thesis McDonnell wrote two decades ago would be a "very important" or "somewhat important" factor in how they will vote. That's up from 36 percent who said that two weeks ago, when Rasmussen had McDonnell leading by 51 percent to 42 percent.
The new poll says that Deeds has gained ground even though voters give McDonnell a higher approval rating and lower disapproval rating than Deeds and also give McDonnell decisive advantages on tax and spending policy. Voters are split over which candidate would best handle transportation issues.
The poll gives President Obama a 49 percent approval rating and outgoing Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine a 52 percent approval rating.
CQ Politics rates the Virginia governor's race as Leans Republican.
To follow the 2009 and 2010 governors' races, check out CQ Politics' election map.
-- Greg Giroux
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