Another poll shows Bob McDonnell ahead of R. Creigh Deeds for governor -- this one, however, by 5 percentage points -- with Deeds getting a boost among fellow Democrats from the fallout over McDonnell's controversial law-school thesis.
The Republican apparently leads Deeds, 42 percent to 37 percent, and 20 percent are undecided, according to Clarus Research Group, a nonpartisan polling firm in Washington led by Ronald A. Faucheux, former publisher and editor of Campaigns & Elections magazine.
The gap is narrowest among recent Virginia polls. SurveyUSA and Public Policy Polling have put McDonnell out front by 7 to 12 percentage points.
The Clarus poll was conducted Thursday through Monday. Based on telephone interviews with 600 registered voters, the poll's results could vary 4 percentage points in either direction.
Clarus showed Republicans also ahead for lieutenant governor and attorney general but with more than 30 percent of voters undecided in both contests.
The Clarus survey suggests that Democrats, who had been slow to rally to Deeds, have been energized by the debate over McDonnell's 1989 thesis in which he criticized working women, gays, premarital sex and contraception.
Because McDonnell remains under 50 percent, the thesis story remains a potential threat, according to the Clarus poll, which notes that a high percentage of undecided voters are independents. Still, among independents who have made up their minds, McDonnell beats Deeds by 7 percentage points.
Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or jschapiro@timesdispatch.com.
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