Poll: Virginians Approve of McDonnell, Direction of Commonwealth

Virginians like where their state is going, approve of Republican Governor Bob McDonnell and 52 percent don't want tolling on Interstate 95, according to a poll released Wednesday by Quinnipiac University.

The poll, which was conducted by live interviewers by phone from Oct. 3-9, surveyed 1,459 registered Virginia voters, with a margin of error of 2.6 percentage points. 

About 19 percent of Virginians are "very or somewhat satisfied about the country" compared to 66 percent who are satisfied with life in Virginia. 

"By more than 3-1, Virginians are happy with what's going on in the state compared to the country and this optimism shows in their views of state politicians. All statewide elected officials, and even the State Legislature, get thumbs up for their job performance," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Overwhelmingly, Virginia voters are happy with what's going on in Richmond, but not so much with what's coming out of Washington."

McDonnell and Sen. Mark Warner (D) are the most popular elected officials in the state. Warner, who is up for reelection in 2014, "has garnered national attention this year as he tried to work on a plan with a bipartisan group of senators, the so-called Gang of Six, to address the nation’s escalating debt," according to the Washington Post.

Virginians also approved of state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, and earned a 46 percent approval rating and a 30 percent disapproval rating from voters. Cucinelli is mulling a run against Warner, according to the Washington Times.