McAuliffe Up Big In Virginia Governor’s Race

With the Virginia election just two weeks away, a once competitive Governor’s race is trending towards a monstrous blowout victory for Democrat Terry McAuliffe over Republican Ken Cuccinelli. Two polls released today suggest that McAuliffe has opened up a crushing advantage over Cuccinelli. Rasmussen polling found McAuliffe leading 50 percent to 33 percent, and a Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey revealed that McAuliffe has an 18 percentage point lead among early voters, 57-39. About a month ago, Rasmussen had McAuliffe leading in a competitive race with a 44-38 edge. However, that was before the government shutdown damaged the Republican brand in Virginia where many federal workers depend upon government paychecks for their livelihood.

The Republican slate in Virginia is widely viewed as being too extreme for the state and the early voter polling numbers point to the GOP’s lack of appeal to moderate and independent voters. McAuliffe enjoys a 54-37 advantage with independents. Furthermore, Cuccinelli’s?desperate attempt to improve his image with female voters can only be deemed a complete failure. Women voters reject Cuccinelli?by a whopping 60-36 margin. Cuccinelli?has taken extreme anti-abortion and anti-contraception positions, and he is paying a huge political price for those stances with women voters.

The Virginia Governor’s race is the highest profile election in November of 2013 and it is widely seen as a proxy for the national mood heading into the 2014 mid-term election year. Right now it is shaping up to be a thorough repudiation of the Republican Party, with Democrat Terry McAuliffe opening up a solid double-digit lead. However, Democrats should not become complacent or celebrate prematurely. Instead Democrats in Virginia need to recognize that this is an opportunity to bury the Tea Party extremists under an avalanche of Democratic votes.

Edited/Published by: SB

 

 

Keith Brekhus is a progressive sociologist who resides in Red Lodge, Montana. He is co-host for the Liberal Fix radio show. Keith is a former Green Party candidate for US Congress (2002 in Missouri's 9th District). He can be followed on Twitter @keithbrekhus.