Two recent independent polls have found Terry McAuliffe leading the Democratic primary field by double digits in the Virginia gubernatorial race.

In a PPP poll released today, McAuliffe led with 30% to 20% for Brian Moran and 14% for Creigh Deeds. A SurveyUSA poll out last week found McAuliffe with 38% to 22% for both Moran and Deeds.

"This is the fourth time PPP has polled this contest and the first time one of the candidates has broken away from the pack," said Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling.

With about a month until the June 9 primary election and a large chunk of the electorate still undecided, the race is far from over. However, McAuliffe appears to have been hitting the right notes during campaign appearances and in his many TV and radio ads. As voters have gotten to know him, McAuliffe's favorability rating has skyrocked -- at 42% now, it's the highest among the three candidates.

Countering the recent trend, the Moran campaign released today an internal poll conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, which found McAuliffe leading Moran by just 2 points -- 31% to 29%, with 18% for Deeds and 22% undecided.

"This poll confirms that our message is breaking through and our grassroots campaign is working," said Andrew Roos, campaign manager for the Moran campaign. "We always knew that we would be outspent in this race, but we've held it close because people believe that Brian Moran is the one who will fight for them."