McDonnell surges to 15-point lead in latest poll

The first Virginia governor’s race poll in two weeks shows Republican former state Attorney General Bob McDonnell surging and growing a 15-point lead over Democratic state Sen. Creigh Deeds.

According to the latest SurveyUSA poll, McDonnell is also over 50 percent for the first time in the race, leading Deeds 55-40.

Deeds was expected to get a bit of a post-primary bump after easily winning a tough primary and emerging considerably unscathed. But even though he appeared to get a momentary bump, it hasn’t translated into anything long-term, and now he looks to be in a bit of trouble with just more than three months to go.

The survey was conducted Monday and Tuesday and is the first poll since a Rasmussen poll in mid-July and a Public Policy Polling survey in early July.

A few earlier polls by SurveyUSA showed McDonnell leading by between one and six points, so Wednesday’s poll shows some real movement.

McDonnell also gained in Rasmussen’s poll two weeks ago, turning a six-point deficit from right after the primary into a three-point lead.