I N D E X   P A G E S: 
  Key Post Stories   All Post Stories  Campaign Documents 

       Back to Opening Page



Poll Shows Gilmore Taking Lead

Washingtonpost.com Staff
Friday, October 24, 1997

A Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research poll on the Virginia governor's race shows former state attorney general James S. Gilmore (R) pulling 5 percentage points ahead of Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D).

The copyrighted poll was conducted Oct. 20-22, with 824 likely Virginia voters interviewed by telephone. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.

Both candidates showed slight improvement in name recognition since the Mason-Dixon poll earlier this month, but in both cases the improvement is inside the survey's margin of error. In addition, Beyer's unfavorable rating has climbed six points since the last poll.

Detailed responses follow:

General Election Matchup:
If the election were held today, who would you choose?
Beyer (D) Gilmore (R) Undecided
Oct. 20-22 42% 47% 11%
Oct. 7-8 43% 43% 14%
September 43% 44% 13%
July 42% 43% 15%
May 41% 43% 16%


Do You Recognize the Name?
   Oct. 20-22       Oct. 7-8       September   
   Yes       No       Yes       No       Yes       No   
Gilmore (R) 97% 3% 95% 5% 91% 9%
Beyer (D) 97% 3% 95% 5% 95% 5%
   July       May   
   Yes       No       Yes       No   
Gilmore (R) 91% 9% 86% 14%
Beyer (D) 93% 7% 91% 9%


Do You Have a Favorable or Unfavorable View of the Candidates?
Oct. 20-22 Oct. 7-8
Fav.    Unfav.    Neutral           Fav.    Unfav.    Neutral   
Gilmore     45% 27% 25%     40% 27% 28%
Beyer     42% 28% 27%     41% 22% 32%
September July
Fav.    Unfav.    Neutral        Fav.    Unfav.    Neutral   
Gilmore     32% 17% 42%     32% 17% 42%
Beyer     39% 22% 34%     36% 21% 36%
May
Fav.    Unfav.    Neutral   
Gilmore     31% 15% 40%
Beyer     34% 21% 36%



Back to the Top

Go to Governor's Race Opening Page
Go to Key Post Stories  |  Go to All Post Stories  |  Go to Campaign Documents



Go to Washington World