Republican Bob McDonnell jumps to Big Lead in Virginia - Rasmussen: It's all about Taxes

Home stretch, increasingly looking like a Big Republican Win

With just 4 weeks to go, Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell has opened up a 9 point lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds, according the latest Rasmussen numbers. Additionally, he had what some describe as a "Macaca moment," when he scolded a female reporter at the same forum, calling her "young lady."

From Rasmussen, Sept. 30:

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Virginia voters finds McDonnell attracting 51% of the vote while Deeds picks up 42%.

Over the past two weeks, McDonnell’s support has gone up three percentage points while Deeds has lost four points.

According to the summary, Deeds had closed within 4 points two weeks ago, but has slipped because of his wobbly statements on taxes at a debate forum.

Continuing:

Through the first half of September, McDonnell was on the defensive following news stories about a college thesis paper he wrote in 1989. The thesis reflected very conservative views...

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.

Obama a drag even in Purple Virginia

Then Rasmussen adds this:

Additionally, the tax issue brings national politics into the race. Recent Virginia polling found that 78% of the state’s voters say passage of the health care plan being considered in Congress is likely to mean higher taxes for the middle class. Beyond that, Virginia was flooded last fall with Obama campaign ads promising tax cuts for 95% of all Americans. National polling shows that hardly anyone believes they will receive tax cuts during the Obama years while more than 40% now expect their own taxes to go up.