Poll: 63 percent of Virginia voters approve of McDonnell's job performance

Results of a new poll done by a Republican firm indicate that nearly two-thirds of Virginia voters approve of the job Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) has done in his first few months as the state's chief executive.

The numbers are generally encouraging for McDonnell, whose disapproval rating is 30 percent.

If there is a data point the governor's people may be concerned about it's the poll conclusion that voters are split -- 44 percent on both sides -- over the question of whether or not the state is heading in the right direction. Polling data provided to the Pilot doesn't draw conclusions about what that division among voters means.

But it does note that by a wide margin voters rank jobs and the economy as the issue they most care about; McDonnell ran on the "Bob's for Jobs" slogan and has repeatedly emphasized that message since taken that office.

In addition to the positive number for McDonnell, the poll also contains some numerical nuggets GOP candidates in the 2010 midterm elections can take comfort in.

Polling firm Public Opinion Strategies (a separate POS poll out this week shows Republican Scott Rigell leading incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye 41-35 percent in the 2nd Congressional District race) concludes the environment is favorable for Republicans, whose base voters are more enthusiastic about this year's contests than Democrats.

-- Julian Walker

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