"McDonnell thesis fracas not hurting Republican's lead"

So says the Northern Virginia Daily in an article by Garren Shipley which notes that Democrat Creigh Deeds is still trailing in the polls. Mr. Shipley notes:

Bob McDonnell's 1989 master's thesis is apparently no "macaca."

The former Virginia attorney general and Republican gubernatorial candidate continues to hold a wide lead over Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds, 49 percent to 39 percent, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports released Wednesday.

With "leaners" included -- voters who initially say they're undecided but pick a candidate when pressed a second time -- McDonnell picks up 51 percent of the vote, while Deeds gets 42 percent.

The poll is the first to be done since reports about McDonnell's controversial 1989 master's thesis appeared on Sunday.

Liberals will have to go back to the Democrat play book because it looks like this one isn't going to take ... which also puts egg on the face of the Washington Post that tried so hard to duplicate their "macaca" glory.

When the story of Bob McDonnell's thesis broke earlier this week, he spent 90 minutes on a phone conference with the media, answering any and all questions from them in a calm manner and noting that some of his views had changed in 20 years. Creigh Deeds admitted that his views have changed over the years, too.

Now compare that to Sonia Sotomayor's comments in the past ... yes, the lady who was just voted onto the Supreme Court. Powerline has the details.

Meanwhile, a new Survey USA poll is showing Bob McDonnell up by 12% over Creigh Deeds ... this after the entire thesis debacle.

Conservative bloggers immediately began reacting to the poll numbers:

- DJ McGuire at Right-Wing Liberal with, Well, so much for that set of plans
- Shaun Kenney has McDonnell 54, Deeds 42
- Jim Hoeft at Bearing Drift has McDonnell by 12 - GOP rolling
- Jim Riley at Virginia Virtucon with, Second consecutive post-thesis poll shows no damage to McDonnell
- Mike at Write Side of My Brain has Creigh Deeds on the Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything
- Carl Kilo at Spark It Up with The Result of Creigh Deeds' Caca - Thesis? Bob McDonnell Up by 12
- Fishersville Mike has rounded up everyone at Strictly VA with Survey USA: McDonnell up by 12

Two months until Election Day. Let's keep the momentum going.

H/T to DS