Despite starting the week on tough ground after the Washington Post dug up a socially conservative policy thesis he wrote 20 years ago, Bob McDonnell is so far maintaining his lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds in the race for governor of Virginia.

A Rasmussen survey released today found McDonnell leading by 9 points (Sept. 1, 500 LV, MoE +/- 4.5%), nearly the same as last month.

Asked about the thesis, just 49% said they'd followed the news about it even somewhat closely, and the same percentage said the issue is not important. More than a third (36%) say McDonnell's writings are at least somewhat important, and 55% still hold a favorable impression of him -- higher than Deeds's 48% favorable rating.

McDonnell 51 (+2 vs. last poll, Aug. 11)
Deeds 42 (+1)
Und 6 (-1)

McDonnell leads by 9.8 points in the RCP Average for Virginia Governor