McDonnell Continues To Dominate Dems

From the latest Rasmussen Report poll:

Of all four gubernatorial candidates, [Republican Bob] McDonnell has seen the biggest increase in his voter favorables since the last survey. By contrast, all three Democrats have seen bigger increases in their unfavorability ratings than in their favorables.

. . .

Fifty-eight percent (58%) now have a favorable view of McDonnell, while just 16% rate him unfavorably. Twenty-six percent (26%) are undecided.

McAuliffe is seen favorably by 35% of voters and unfavorably by 43%. Twenty-three percent (23%) are not sure what they think of him.

For Moran, favorables are 34% and unfavorables are 38%, with 28% not sure.

Deeds is regarded favorably by 33% of the state’s voters and unfavorably by 35%. But 32% have no opinion of him.

That’s right.  McDonnell enjoys a +42 net favorable rating while McAuliffe posts a -8 unfavorable, Moran a -4 unfavorable and Deeds a -2 favorable.  In the last such poll that came out in early Feb., McDonnell was +32 favorable, McAuliffe was -5 unfavorable, Moran -1 unfavorable and Deeds was +1 favorable.  Across the board, the Feb. trends seem to have continued.

All that is an excellent indicator, but what about head-to-head match-ups?

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state finds the closest race is between McDonnell, the former attorney general and lone GOP candidate, and Brian J. Moran, a former state delegate from Alexandria. McDonnell now leads Moran by 10 points, 44% to 34%.

The highest profile Democrat in the race is next. Terry McAuliffe, a longtime Clinton confidant and former national party chairman, trails McDonnell by 12 points, 45% to 33%.

State Delegate R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County continues to fare the worst against his Republican opponent. McDonnell leads Deeds by 15 points, 45% to 30%.

So, McDonnell is in the mid-40s while every D is struggling to get out of the low-30s.  In Feb. McDonnell led McAuliffe 42% to 35% (and in Dec. ’08 McDonnell led by 5%), so McD picked up another 3% while McA lost 2% for a net 5% gain for McD.  Similarly, McDonnell led Moran 39% to 36% last go round (4 months ago Moran led McDonnell by 4%), but McD has picked up 5% while Moran has lost 2% for a net change of 7% in McDonnell’s favor.  Finally, 2 months ago McDonnell led Deeds 39%-30% (4 months ago they were tied), but McD has picked up another 6% while Deeds stayed flat.

The bottom line is the trends:

McDonnell vs. McAuliffee — Dec. McD +5; Feb. McD +7%; Apr. McD +12

McDonnell vs. Moran — Dec. Moran +4%; Feb. McD +3%; Apr. McD +10%

McDonnell vs. Deeds — Dec. McD – TIED; Feb. McD +9; Apr. McD +15

In every instance, the more people get to know Bob McDonnell and his policies, the more they approve of him and the more likely they are to vote for him.  Likewise, the more the Dems make silly attacks upon him, like the religious-based attack that Gov. Timmy!’s DNC launched against Timmy!’s fellow Catholic Bob McDonnell (on Holy Thursday of all days), the more Virginians get turned off to the same old tired scare tactics and negative politics that Democrats trudge out every election.

Bob McDonnell
Governor for Virginia