With 49 days to go, a new poll in Virginia finds the race for governor tighter than any poll in the last two months. Bob McDonnell (R) leads with 42% to 37% for Creigh Deeds and 20% undecided, according to Clarus Research Group, a non-partisan polling firm (Sept. 10-14, 600 RV, MoE +/- 4%).

Deeds still needs to solidify his standing in Democratic Northern Virginia, where he leads by just 5 points. McDonnell leads by 15 points along the I-81 corridor in the western and southwestern parts of the state.

Just more than half (52%) said they had heard about the controversy surrounding McDonnell's graduate thesis, which Democrats have used to portray the former attorney general as too socially conservative to represent the entire state. Of those that were aware of it, 63% said it had no effect on their feeling toward McDonnell, while 5% said it made them feel more favorable toward him and 31% said he became less favorable.

"The McDonnell thesis story has not -- so far -- damaged McDonnell as badly as Democrats had hoped, but it hasn't left him unscathed, the way many Republicans had hoped," said Ron Faucheux, president of Clarus Research Group.

Republicans are leading down ballot as well. Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R), who is running for re-election, leads Jody Wagner (D) 38% to 32%, with 31% undecided. State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R) leads State Del. Steve Shannon 35% to 30% in the race for attorney general, with 35% undecided.

McDonnell now leads by 8.2 points in the RCP Average.