With just over one week to go before election day, a new Washington Post poll of the Virginia Governor's race shows Republican Bob McDonnell leading Democrat Creigh Deeds by double digits, 55 to 44. The eleven-point lead is a slight improvement for McDonnell versus the WaPo's last survey three weeks ago showing him with a 9-point lead, 53 to 44.

Overall, McDonnell now leads Deeds in the RCP Average by 11.2%.

The poll paints a fairly grim picture for Deeds' prospects in turning things around in the final week of the campaign. First and foremost there is the enthusiasm gap favoring the Republican: 39% of McDonnell's supporters say they are "very excited" about voting for McDonnell, while only 22% say the same for Deeds.

McDonnell also leads Deeds across a host of issues: +17 on the economy and jobs;  +16 on transportation issues; +25 on taxes. And, to give you an idea of just how badly the Deeds campaign failed in its effort to use McDonnell's 25-year old thesis to damage the Republican with women voters, McDonnell leads Deeds 49-42 on "issues of special concern to women."