Virginia Democrat Ralph Northam soared to a 17-point lead over his Republican opponent, Ed Gillespie, in a poll released Monday, a week before the governor's election in a race closely watched as a referendum on President Donald Trump.
Northam, the current lieutenant governor, is supported by 53 percent of likely voters surveyed by Quinnipiac University. Gillespie is backed by only 36 percent of voters and Libertarian Party candidate Cliff Hyra won only 3 percent.
The poll of 916 Virginians found:
- White voters are split 46-46 percent with 4 percent for Hyra.
- Non-white voters back Northam 72-15 percent and 2 percent for Hyra.
- Women back Northam 56-36 percent with 1 percent for Hyra.
- Men support Northam 51-37 percent with 5 percent for Hyra.
- Democrats back Northam 97-1 percent
- Republicans support Gillespie 86-8 percent.
- Independents favor Northam 47-42 percent with 6 percent for Hyra.
- Voters disapprove of Trump's performance in office by 60-34 percent.
The survey reflects similar findings by Quinnipiac two weeks ago when Northam scored 53 percent and Gillespie 39 percent.
Most political opinion polls have shown the Nov. 7 race deadlocked, but a survey last week by Virginia's Hampton University showed Gillespie with an eight-point lead.
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