Posted on 09/29/2009 4:19:26 PM PDT by HokieMom
In VA, Republicans Still Above 50% in All 3 Statewide November Contests: Virginia Republicans continue to dominate the statewide contests for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General in elections today, 09/29/09, five weeks until votes are counted, according to SurveyUSA polling for WDBJ-TV Roanoke and WJLA-TV Washington DC.
In the race for Governor, Republican Bob McDonnell today defeats Democrat Creigh Deeds by 14 points, 55% to 41%. Compared to identical SurveyUSA polls released four and nine weeks ago, little has changed. McDonnell receives majorities from both men and women, young and old, rich and poor, college graduates and those who did not attend college. Deeds leads by 3:1 among African Americans, by 7:1 among Democrats and liberals, and by 14 points among moderates. McDonnell and Deeds tie in Northeastern Virginia; McDonnell leads in the rest of the state.
For Lieutenant Governor, Incumbent Republican Bill Bolling is today elected to a second term, defeating Democrat Jody Wagner, former Treasurer of VA and VA Secretary of Finance, 54% to 41%. Bolling led nine weeks ago by 12, led four weeks ago by 10, leads today by 13. The Republican has momentum in Central VA. The Democrat is making inroads, though still trailing, in Southeast VA.
In the Attorney General contest, Republican state senator Ken Cuccinelli today defeats Democrat state representative Steve Shannon 53% to 42%. The Republican has never polled less than 53%. The Democrat has never polled more than 42%.
Filtering: 1,000 Virginia adults were interviewed by SurveyUSA 09/26/09 through 09/29/09. Of them, 886 were registered to vote. Of them, 631 were determined by SurveyUSA to be likely to vote in the November general election. Incumbent Democratic Governor Tim Kaine is term limited; his seat is open. Incumbent Republican Attorney General Bill Mims was appointed to the seat by the Virginia General Assembly in February 2009, when Bob McDonnell resigned to campaign full-time for Governor, and is not seeking election to the office.
Well, I don’t believe Larry Sabato.
Still, the 14 pts. is a bit extreme. I think it’s probably somewhere in between the two at around 7-9 pts. McDonnell said as much in an interview this morning and said, once again, that he’s campaigning like he’s 10 pts. down.
Still the best part of the SurveyUSA poll is the “oh crap” moment it gives the Dems.
Rasmussen: 51-42
“But Deeds in a recent debate said a tax increase was one option for addressing the state’s transportation needs, and McDonnell’s campaign has seized on the comment, putting his rival on the defensive. By a 51% to 36% margin, voters trust the GOP candidate more on the tax issue. While that’s little changed from earlier surveys, it’s certainly a better topic for Republican candidates to discuss. The tax issue also may resonate because it can be tied to other state and national issues.
By a 45% to 32% margin, voters now trust McDonnell more than Deeds on the issue of transportation. Previous surveys had found voters evenly divided on the topic. One question that always surrounds the transportation debate is how to pay for the proposed improvements.”
Thank you for the message. The above points are more than devestating for Deeds. Go Bob Go!!!
Doug Wilder has also publicly refused to endorse Deeds! He called a presser just to say so.
Virginia is already a great place to live. We need Republican Conservatives in power to keep it that way and to prevent the Legislature from increasing the size and scope of government.
I would expand on nina’s voter registration. Students from out of state who come to VA colleges and universities should be banned from voting in VA until after graduation, if they choose to take up permanent residency in the Old Dominion. Registering while students should be an offense punishable by fines and time in jail. ACORN’s enrolling students from deep blue states is what turned VA blue last year.
The Commonwealth judicial system should have a better appellate procedure, perhaps an interim level court that could take appeals without it having to be like going to the US Supreme Court, with little chance of the appeal being considered.
It is also well past time to kill once and for all the car tax. It was kept on the books so it could be trotted out by the Dems when they see fit. If at some time in the future it is necessary and appropriate, they can write it in as a new tax instead of jiggering with one already on the books.
How is he doing against unlikely voters?
Yes. This is quite doable. When do you start?
2. Changing the election laws such that a multi-year residency is required before voting in Virginia state or local elections.
Don't see how that could pass Constitutional muster. Our voting rights are so broad and broadly construed. Most judges are strongly biased in favor of allowing more democracy, not less.
I think creating an ID requirement makes sense. Does VA have an ID requirement to vote?
I agree, but wonder how this would work in the real world. I think if they could show where they pay taxes or where their cars are legally registered or something. It will be hard to exclude anyone from voting. It is sacrosanct.
That’s actually part of a larger issue, isn’t it? When this became an issue last year, some posted the VA law on residency which would seem to exclude (but didn’t) out of state students.
Most of our elections laws were written at a time when people were more honorable and far less mobil. Now we have people from NY/NY/New England voting at ‘home’ and in Florida or Arizona. Voting by mail, absentee balloting, etc. seems to encourage abuse. Bring on the purple ink !!
If out of state VA college students applied from out of state, pay out-of-state tuition, have an out-of-state driver’s license and/or car registered out of state, they should not be allowed to vote here, as many did last year. Something has to be tightened up, since many seem not to have a moral to inform their decisions. Maybe all states should have a longer residency requirement (one full year), with registration more than 30 days before the election.
It’s just very discouraging that our elections are so easily manipulated by individuals and organizations operating outside the spirit of the laws that exist.
The problem and the tidy solution. Ironic, no, that a deeply 3rd world country has a higher standard for voting integrity than the wealthiest/greatest nation on earth?
Oh, so those figures are in the current survey? Very encouraging.
Nine points!
Two weeks ago Rasmussen had it 48-46.
That’s even better news, then.
McDonnell earns another pro-business endorsement:
McDonnell Endorsed by Northern Virginia Technology Council
Influential Group Comprised of Roughly 1,000 Companies Representing 200,000 Employees
In Last Six Weeks McDonnell Endorsed by: The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation; Virginia Realtors; Virginia Credit Unions; National Federation of Independent Business; National Rifle Association; Fairfax Chamber of Commerce; Fraternal Order of Police; The Humane Society; Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce; Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce; Associated Builders and Contractors
RICHMOND- The Northern Virginia Technology Council, through its TechPAC, endorsed Bob McDonnell today in the 2009 race for governor. The group is comprised of roughly 1,000 technology companies in Northern Virginia representing 200,000 employees and is widely seen as the voice of the Northern Virginia technology community. With today’s endorsement McDonnell has now been endorsed by major business groups all across the Commonwealth. McDonnell has received endorsements from the Virginia chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Virginia Realtors, the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, the Virginia Credit Union League, and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.