Democrat Terry McAuliffe has vaulted into the lead over Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II in a Virginia governor’s race that has left many voters sour on both candidates, according to a new Washington Post-Abt SRBI poll.
McAuliffe leads 47 percent to 39 percent among likely voters, with Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis’s 10 percent suggesting an unrest among voters not satisfied with either major-party contender. In a one-on-one matchup without Sarvis in the mix, the poll shows a narrower, 49-to-44-percent race between McAuliffe and Cuccinelli among likely voters — but still flips Cuccinelli’s 10-point lead from this spring.
The shift in the race has come almost exclusively from female voters, who prefer McAuliffe by a 24-point margin over Cuccinelli. The candidates were effectively tied among women in a Washington Post poll in May.
McAuliffe’s strength among women is probably due in part to an intense campaign to portray Cuccinelli as a threat to women and the issues they care about most deeply. A new McAuliffe ad, for instance, features a Norfolk OB-GYN speaking directly to the camera about how she is “offended” by Cuccinelli’s position on abortion.
The challenge for Cuccinelli is stark: Nearly half of all voters view him unfavorably, and they trust his opponent as much as or more than the Republican on every major issue in the race, according to the poll. On trust to handle issues of special concern to women, McAuliffe leads Cuccinelli by 23 points.
I distinctly recall several people stopping by Moonhowlings to laugh at the threads on the Women’s Strike Force and the activist group, Cooch Watch. I also recall people laughing, scoffing at the various posts during the past year or so about the war on women that we have felt nationally but especially here in Virginia. Hopefully, those men who felt this issue was to be trivialized are now regretting their snide remarks and also the fact that women have been able to vote for almost 100 years.
The women of Virginia are serious, deadly serious, about their reproductive rights. Women outside of Virginia have been aggressively helpful in spreading the word also. For example, Rachel Maddow has kept all Americans updated on the nefarious tricks in Richmond. In fact, she branded Bob McDonnell, another anti-choice zealot in not so subtle sheep’s clothing, Governor Ultra-Sound.
The election will be over November 6. Hopefully the women of Virginia will get out to the polls and vote for Terry McAuliffe who does support reproductive rights. If women rest on their laurels and don’t go to the polls, all efforts will be for naught. Voter turn-out is not expected to be heavy since it is an off-election year. It’s critical that right wing extremists see that they cannot win elections when they try to take away women’s reproductive rights. That 24 point lead is nothing if women don’t go to the polls in droves.
There will be a gubernatorial debate tomorrow night (Wednesday) in Northern Virginia. It will be aired on Channel 4 at 7 pm.
He who laughs last, laughs longest.
From Mark Warner on Facebook — Absentee voting in Virginia has begun! Here are a few important dates for Virginia voters:
Oct. 15: Last day to change your address; register to vote
Oct. 29: Last day to apply to be mailed an absentee ballot
Nov. 2: Last day to vote in-person absentee
Nov. 5: Election Day!
Thanks, Cindy. Good post.
Yes, vote early and often… 🙂
Terry is going to need every last one of those votes if he is going to win. Have you seen the TechPAC results of their interviews with Terry? Ouch…
“Terry was his normal, flamboyant self. He didn’t want to get pinned down to any details. He didn’t give any details. He was all about jobs, jobs, jobs — ‘I’m just going to take care of the situation when the time comes. I’m just going to do it.’ It was all [expletive].”
when asked how he would accomplish his goals as governor, “McAuliffe told the PAC board that as an Irish Catholic he’d be adept at taking people out for drinks and doing whatever it takes to get things done.”
The PAC endorsed Ken, for obvious reasons, that resulted in a typical response from VA Democrats:
“I urge you to stop any endorsement of Cuccinelli. . .The ramifications of his being endorsed will be huge within the Senate Democratic caucus. . . . The response [from legislators] will be frigid and doors will be closed [when the council seeks help with its legislative agenda]. Achieving the goals of NVTC will be difficult to impossible,” wrote state Sen. Janet D. Howell (D-Fairfax).
Yea, so what. Then you have another group endorsing McAuliffe. Before that endorsement, had you ever heard of that group? Probably not.
Don’t discount being able to talk to people and convince them of your way of thinking. It sure beats threats and blackmail that Cuccinelli is known for. Ask yourself how both Clinton and Reagan got as far as they did….by sitting down and talking to people.
BTW… I’m not voting for Terry or Ken.
Why are you throwing your vote away in a close race?
I can’t imagine this is a shocker to anyone!
@Moon-howler
This isn’t a threat or blackmail?
“I urge you to stop any endorsement of Cuccinelli. . .The ramifications of his being endorsed will be huge within the Senate Democratic caucus. . . . The response [from legislators] will be frigid and doors will be closed [when the council seeks help with its legislative agenda]. Achieving the goals of NVTC will be difficult to impossible,” wrote state Sen. Janet D. Howell (D-Fairfax).
It’s just hard to believe that these two bozos are the best we could come up with in Virginia. I bet you could grab two random people off the street and probably do better.
My nicknames for them are the Crook & the Creep. The hard part is figuring out which is which.
Oh I can think of a lot worse.
Of course, as a protest, we could elect Sarvis, the Libertarian candidate.
He cannot be elected. Unless I was seriously libertarian, I would feel like I was wasting my vote. But that’s just me.
Sardis is hurting Cuccinelli more than McAuliffe,
@Starryflights
Yep.
@Moon-howler
Yep. of course if we ALL voted for him…… he would win. THAT would be a great protest vote win. However, only those not interested in statist, Democrat ideas will vote for them
MacAuliffe has already vowed to be divisive, promising to enact Colorado style gun control.
Them who? I was speaking of the third party candidate. I think he is pulling more from Cuccinelli than from McAuliffe.
Third party candidates can be spoilers. But if a third party is wanted, it has to gain votes and traction. It’ll be interesting to watch the vote in Virginia during this cycle when neither main party candidate is thrilling. (Well, Cuccinelli is thrilling in that you never know what wacky idea he’ll spout.)
The Fairfax Chamber of Commerce just endorsed McAuliffe.