Virginians optimistic about direction of state, Post poll finds

Virginians are far more optimistic about the direction of the state than that of the nation, and they are generally pleased with the performance of most of their elected officials, according to a new poll by The Washington Post.

Fifty-two percent of adults polled think that the state is generally moving on the right course, while only 31 percent think the same about the nation, according to the newly released poll.

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Even more — 62 percent — approve of the way Gov. Robert F. McDonnell is handling his job, while 26 percent disapprove.

McDonnell, 56, the state’s first Republican governor in eight years, took office last year in the aftermath of the worst recession since the Great Depression. He easily defeated his Democratic opponent, Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (Bath), by running as a pragmatic leader who could work across party lines to solve the state’s economic problems.

More than half of Virginians — 54 percent — say they have just enough money to maintain their standard of living. Nineteen percent say they are getting ahead financially, and 27 percent say they are falling behind. In 2007, 33 percent said they were getting ahead financially, while 16 percent said they were falling behind.

Peykan Peymani, 48, a high-tech salesman from McLean who considers himself an independent but tends to vote Republican, said he thinks that the commonwealth’s economy is robust.

“I think, generally, it’s strong. It’s always been strong,’’ he said. “I don’t believe we feel what the rest of America is feeling. . . . And I want that to continue.”

In his first 15 months in office, McDonnell has focused on creating jobs, streamlining government and securing $2.9 billion in bonds for perennially clogged roads and $100 million for underfunded colleges.

“I think he’s doing fair,’’ said Jane Kilduff, 89, a widow who has lived in Northumberland County in the Northern Neck her entire life. “This is a hard time. I think the state is doing well. I think Virginia has prospered. I think the governor is trying to do what he can.”

McDonnell helped cut $4 billion from the state budget, paring back spending to 2006 levels and not raising taxes. He later announced that the state ended the fiscal year with a surplus of about $403 million.

“I don’t like what he’s doing to education. He’s made all these cuts,” said Cindy Lawson, 59, a legal secretary who lives in Alexandria and generally votes for Democrats. “Then he finds a surplus but doesn’t give the money back to education.”

McDonnell remains popular in all regions of the state, with a 53 percent approval rating in the close-in Washington suburbs, including Arlington and Fairfax counties. In the outer suburbs — including fast-growing Loudoun and Prince William counties — 61 percent say they approve of the way he is doing his job as governor.

The governor gets overwhelmingly positive ratings from his fellow Republicans (82 percent approve) and also scores well among independents (63 percent approve). Even among Democrats, more approve than disapprove of the job he’s doing, 50 percent to 36 percent.