Hampton, Va. - Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe holds a five-point lead over Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli in the Nov. 5 general election for Virginia governor, according to a Hampton University Center for Public Policy poll released today. The poll was conducted on Sept. 25-26 and 28-29 and included 804 registered voters who said they were “likely” to vote in the Nov. 5 contest.
If the 2013 general election for governor were held today, 42 percent of the registered voters polled indicated support for McAuliffe, while 37 percent said they would support Cuccinelli. Libertarian candidate, Robert Sarvis, has eight percent support from likely voters polled.
“Based on our recent poll results, the governor’s race in Virginia will be a close one,” stated Kelly Harvey, Director of the Hampton University Center for Public Policy. “The race likely will be decided among Independents. The split among this group is currently at 33 percent each.”
“Independents -who are suspicious of both parties and will break late – will decide Virginia’s next governor. Whoever engages them on economy, employment, ethics and education in the next month can get closer to that elusive 50 percent mark,” said Kellyanne Conway of the Polling Company, a consultant of the poll.
"High voter turnout in the D.C. suburbs and Hampton Roads will favor McAuliffe but a more normal, off-year turnout will help Cuccinelli. And the Sarvis factor may be huge given the high unfavorable of both of the major candidates," said Ronald Lester of Lester and Associates, a consultant of the poll.
Historically, the race for Lieutenant Governor is overshadowed by the race for Virginia’s number one spot. However, this year the Lieutenant Governor’s race is heating up amid controversial statements landing the candidates in a statistical tie.
With 39 percent of the vote, Republican candidate E.W. Jackson leads Democrat Ralph Northam who captured 38 percent of the vote from respondents polled. Twenty-three (23) percent of likely voters are undecided on the Lieutenant Governor’s race leaving four weeks for improvement from both candidates.
In the Attorney General’s race, Republican Mark Obenshain has 41percent voter support and Democrat Mark Herring has 37 percent. Similar to the ballot question in the race for Lieutenant Governor, both candidates are not very well known.
The Center for Public Policy is an objective, non-partisan source for information and solutions on a variety of topics. Along with Hampton University's mission of education and service, the Center for Public Policy stands to serve as the pulse of the people of Virginia. Future topics will deal with health, education, transportation, violence and other topics of interest, and concern to the citizens of Virginia. For more information on the Hampton University Center for Public Policy call 757-727-5426 or visit www.hamptonu.edu/cpp.
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Goldman: Why the Hampton University GUV poll is best
http://wtvr.com/2013/10/04/goldman-why-the-hampton-university-guv-poll-is-best/
