Poll: McAuliffe Leads in Race for Va. Governor

By Steven Shepard
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner would be a heavy favorite if he were to launch a gubernatorial campaign in Virginia once again next year, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released early Wednesday. If Warner doesn’t run, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe would begin with a slight advantage. He holds early, modest leads over the two declared Republican candidates, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.
The poll, conducted Nov. 8-12, in the wake of last week’s election, shows Warner with wide leads over both Republicans, outpacing Bolling by 20 points, 53 percent to 33 percent, and Cuccinelli by 18 points, 52 percent to 34 percent.
The race would be closer — with significantly more undecideds — if McAuliffe were the Democratic nominee. McAuliffe would lead Bolling, 38 percent to 36 percent, while he would hold a 4-point advantage over Cuccinelli, 41 percent to 37 percent.
Read more: http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2012/11/poll-warner-would-be-favorite-for-va-governor-14