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Virginia voters, including women and young voters, give Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, a 53 - 26 percent job approval rating, one of the highest scores in any of the seven states surveyed by Quinnipiac University, according to a poll released today. Women approve of Gov. McDonnell 48 - 26 percent, while men approve 59 - 27 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University survey finds. White voters approve 58 - 25 percent while black voters approve 41 - 32 percent. Voters 18 to 34 years old approve 48 - 24 percent. The only group that disapproves is Democrats, by a fairly narrow 43 - 34 percent. \"As Gov. Bob McDonnell enters his final year in office, he remains one of the nation's more popular chief state executives,\" said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. \"He is the only Republican office-holder in the seven states surveyed by Quinnipiac University who get positive ratings from women, almost 2-1 in this case, and a plus score from black voters. A 2-1 approval rating among young voters doesn't hurt.\" \"Are national GOP leaders paying attention here?\" Every group except Democrats also has a favorable opinion of McDonnell. Virginia voters are divided on lifting the ban on uranium mining in the state, as 42 percent support mining because of economic benefits, while 40 percent oppose mining because of environmental concerns. Republicans support mining, 69 - 19 percent. Among independent voters, 41 percent support mining, with 38 percent opposed. Democrats are opposed, 60 - 22 percent. There is a large gender gap as men support mining 52 - 34 percent, while women oppose it 46 - 33 percent. Virginia voters say 51 - 43 percent that requiring year-round public schools is a bad idea. There is little partisan or gender difference on this issue, but independent voters support the idea by a narrow 48 - 44 percent. Voters with children in public schools are divided, with 50 percent in favor of more school and 47 percent opposed. Voters with college degrees support year-round school 50 - 44 percent; By a 49 - 42 percent margin, voters say it should be easier to fire public school teachers. Support is 63 - 31 percent among Republicans and 54 - 37 percent among independent voters. Democrats are opposed 60 - 31 percent. Men want firing made easier, 55 - 38 percent, while women are divided, with 43 percent in favor of easier firing and 46 percent opposed. A total of 92 percent of Virginia voters say it is \"very important\" or \"somewhat important\" to improve roads and highways. But there are mixed opinions on where to find the money to make the improvements. Voters oppose 57 - 38 percent putting tolls on parts of Interstate 95 in the Commonwealth to pay for road repairs. Given a choice, however, between tolls or a higher gas tax, voters prefer tolls 56 - 32 percent. Support for tolls over a gas tax hike is strong among all groups, except voters in the southeast part of the Commonwealth, where 46 percent prefer tolls and 42 percent prefer higher gas taxes. \"There is broad public support for the idea of state action to improve the state's roads and highways, but not on how such projects should be funded,\" said Brown. Privatizing operations at Virginia's ports is a bad idea, voters say 40 - 34 percent. From November 8 - 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,469 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter."}
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Women, Young Voters Like Virginia's Republican Gov,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Year-Round School Is A Bad Idea, Voters Say