Barack Obama continues to lead John McCain in Virginia, which this year has shaped up to be a critical battleground state. The latest Fox News/Rasmussen Reports telephone poll in the state finds Obama leading 50% to 47%.
A week ago, Obama had a 50% to 48% edge. His lead is identical to that two weeks ago.
McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin are scheduled to campaign in Virginia today. Obama and his vice presidential partner, Joseph Biden, campaigned in the state two weeks ago.
George W. Bush won Virginia by eight percentage points in both 2000 and 2004, but Democrats have focused on Virginia this year as a red state they hope to peel away from Republicans. No Democrat has won the state since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
The candidates are tied at 48% among unaffiliated voters in Virginia. McCain leads 50% to 49% among men, while Obama has a 51% to 46% advantage among women.
McCain leads among white voters in Virginia 59% to 38%. Obama leads 83% to 14% among non-white voters.
Obama is viewed favorably by 54% and unfavorably by 45%. McCain’s reviews are 56% favorable, 43% unfavorable.
Voters in Virginia trust Obama more overall by a 48% to 47% margin, representing little change from last week, when the candidates were tied at 48% each.
On the top issue of the economy, voters in Virginia trust Obama more by a 49% to 46% margin. Last week, Obama led 50% to 46% on this issue.
On national security and the War on Terror, voters trust McCain more than Obama, 52% to 44%.
Sixty-five percent (65%) say they would be at least somewhat comfortable with McCain in the White House, while just 58% say that of Obama. However, while 37% say they would be extremely comfortable with an Obama presidency, just 25% say the same of McCain. Forty percent (40%) would not be comfortable at all with Obama in office, while 35% would not be comfortable at all with McCain as president.
Voters are most comfortable with Biden as vice president. Sixty-nine percent (69%) say they would be at least somewhat comfortable with Biden in the number two job. Just over half (52%) of voters say they would be at least somewhat comfortable with Palin in the role. While 30% of voters say they would not be comfortable at all with Biden as vice president, 46% say that about Palin.
Governor Tim Kaine earns good or excellent job approval ratings from 45% of voters, while 21% say he is doing a poor job.
President Bush receives good or excellent reviews from 31%, while 49% give the president poor ratings.
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This telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on October 12, 2008. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
See Methodology.
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Virginia Trends: McCain vs. Obama |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Date |
McCain |
Obama |
|
11/02/2008 |
47% |
51% |
|
47% |
51% |
|
|
44% |
54% |
|
|
47% |
50% |
|
|
48% |
50% |
|
|
47% |
50% |
|
|
45% |
50% |
|
|
50% |
48% |
|
|
48% |
48% |
|
|
49% |
47% |
|
|
45% |
46% |
|
|
44% |
44% |
|
|
44% |
45% |
|
|
47% |
44% |
|
|
52% |
41% |
|
|
49% |
44% |
|
|
45% |
43% |
|
|
Favorable Ratings for Presidential Candidates in Virginia |
||
|---|---|---|
|
McCain |
Obama |
|
|
Very Favorable |
36% |
46% |
|
Somewhat Favorable |
21% |
9% |
|
Somewhat Unfavorable |
24% |
10% |
|
Very Unfavorable |
19% |
33% |
|
Not Sure |
1% |
1% |
|
Rasmussen Reports - Electoral College Balance of Power Summary |
|
|---|---|
|
160 |
|
|
260 |
|
|
118 |
|
Rasmussen Reports is an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information.
The Rasmussen Reports ElectionEdge™ Premium Service for Election 2008 offers the most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a Presidential election.
Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, has been an independent pollster for more than a decade.
