Since wrapping up the Republican nomination, John McCain has gained ground on his two potential Democratic challengers in many states. Virginia is no exception. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Virginia voters found McCain ahead of Barack Obama by eleven percentage points, 52% to 41%. McCain leads Hillary Clinton by an enormous twenty-two point margin, 58% to 36% (see video report).

The survey was conducted on Thursday, March 27, following several days of media coverage concerning Clinton’s comments about Bosnia.

The new numbers reflect a significant gain for McCain in the Old Dominion. Last month, McCain had a five-point lead over Obama and a ten-point lead over Clinton. The Republican candidate also leads both Democrats nationally in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

McCain, viewed favorably by 64% and unfavorably by 34%, is the most popular candidate among the state’s voters. Fifty-three percent (53%) give Obama a favorable rating while 47% give him an unfavorable rating. Clinton’s ratings are 37% favorable and 61% unfavorable. For Clinton, those figures reflect a sharp decline over the past month. In February, 48% of Likely Voters in Virginia had a favorable opinion of the former First Lady.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Virginia voters say the Economy is the top issue in the upcoming election. That figure includes 32% of Republicans and 43% of Democrats. Just 17% of voters rate the economy good or excellent, while 37% give it a poor rating. Just 9% think economy conditions are improving, while 70% say they are getting worse. Nationally, the Rasmussen Consumer Index shows that consumer and investor confidence is near the lowest levels of the past seven years.

When it comes to the War in Iraq, 57% of Virginia voters say the U.S. and its Allies are winning. A fifth (20%) of voters say the terrorists are winning. Those figures are more optimistic than the national average. Forty-percent of Virginia voters say the situation in Iraq will get better in the next six months. That figure includes 65% of Republicans and 17% of Democrats. Overall, 31% say the situation in Iraq will get worse over the coming months.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Virginia voters think American society is fair and decent, while 21% find it unfair and discriminatory.

Over the past month, McCain has gained ground in Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. He also hold a solid lead in North Carolina, Georgia and Arkansas. Both Democrats continue to lead in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and California (see summary of recent state general election polling). A recent Rasmussen Reports analysis looks at one of the reasons for McCain’s recent gains--the impact of Pastor Wright and Obama’s speech.

Virginia is rated as Leans Republican in the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator. This Calculator aggregates data from a variety of sources to provide a comprehensive assessment of the state-by-state race for the White House. Data inputs include the latest Rasmussen Reports poll in a state, an average of the latest polling from other firms, Rasmussen Markets data, Intrade market data, the aggregated rankings of selected analysts, the state’s voting history, and national party identification trends.

Rasmussen Markets data prior to release of this poll suggested that Republicans were narrowly favored to win Virginia this November (current prices: Republican % Democrat %). Market results suggest that Obama has a % chance of becoming the next President of the United States. Expectations for McCain are at %. Among Democrats, the Markets give Obama a % chance to win the nomination while expectations for a Clinton victory are at %. Numbers in this paragraph are from a prediction market, not a poll. Using a trading format where traders "buy and sell" candidates, issues, and news features, the Rasmussen Markets harness competitive passions to provide a reliable leading indicator of upcoming events. We invite you to participate in the Rasmussen Markets. It costs nothing to join and add your voice to the collective wisdom of the market.

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