McDonnell lead grows in new poll

Republican Bob McDonnell has increased his advantage over Democrat Creigh Deeds in the race for Virginia governor, according to a poll released Wednesday.

The Rasmussen Reports results -- they put McDonnell atop Deeds 51-42, a slightly higher margin than the 49-41 figures in last month's poll -- come one day after Public Policy Polling showed the Democrat closing the gap but still trailing his GOP competitor.

Wednesday's poll is based on data gathered since McDonnell's 1989 graduate thesis advocating conservative social policy became public this week. The survey of 500 likely Virginia voters was conducted Tuesday. The poll's margin of error is 4.5 percent.

About half (49 percent) of poll respondents said they have followed news reports about the thesis controversy. And an identical percentage of those surveyed said the writings aren't important.

The Rasmussen numbers coincide with the findings in many of the public polls done this summer showing McDonnell ahead of Deeds.

-- Julian Walker

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