Virginia Democrats are locked in a tight primary in this year's governor's race, but either contender tops the lead Republican, former GOP National Committee Chair Ed Gillespie, by double digits, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
In the Democratic primary for governor, former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello has 25 percent to Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam's 20 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds. Another 51 percent are undecided.
Gillespie leads the Republican primary with 28 percent, followed by Prince William County Supervisors Chair Corey Stewart at 12 percent, State Sen. Frank Wagner with 7 percent and 51 percent undecided.
In possible general election matchups:
- Perriello tops Gillespie 46 - 33 percent;
- Northam leads Gillespie 44 - 33 percent. Margins are similar in other possible matchups.
None of the candidates is well known, as the number of Virginia voters who don't know enough about the candidates to form an opinion of them ranges from 49 percent for Gillespie to 77 percent for Wagner.
"Two months before Virginia Democrats and Republicans pick their candidates for governor, the heavy front-runner in each primary is 'undecided,'" said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
"Although the race for the Republican nomination is far from over, former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie is solidly ahead among those who name a candidate.
"Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam originally had been expected to coast to the nomination, but former Congressman Tom Perriello is inching ahead."
"Seven months before the November election, the early signs are very positive for the Democrats. Both Democrats have double-digit leads over any GOP candidate," Brown added.
In the Virginia governor's race between Perriello and Gillespie, women back the Democrat 52 - 27 percent. Men are divided, with 40 percent for Gillespie and 39 percent for Perriello. White voters go 42 percent for Gillespie and 39 percent for Perriello, while non-white voters go Democratic 64 - 14 percent. Independent voters back the Democrat 39 - 27 percent.
In the Northam-Gillespie face-off, women go Democratic 49 - 28 percent, while men go 39 percent for the Republican and 38 percent for the Democrat. White voters go 41 percent for Gillespie and 38 percent for Northam. Non-white voters go Democratic 58 - 16 percent.
From April 6 - 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,115 Virginia voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. The survey includes 435 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 4.7 percentage points and 483 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.
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