In the Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday, McAuliffe has 43 percent support to Cuccinelli’s 38.
{mosads}Other recent polls have shown the race to be a tossup, and many voters are still undecided.
“The governor’s race remains tight and could well go all the way to November as a close contest,” said Quinnipiac University Polling Institute assistant director Peter Brown in a statement. “The 17 percent of voters who say they are undecided will determine the Commonwealth’s next governor. At this point neither man seems to have much of an edge.”
Polls show Cuccinelli with a slight edge among independent voters who break for the attorney general 38-37 over McAuliffe. He also carries men 44 to 38 percent, while Democrat McAuliffe leads with female voters by a 47-33 split.
Both candidates hold a positive net favorability, with McAuliffe viewed favorably by 22 percent to 17 percent unfavorable. Cuccinelli holds a 31-24 favorable split.
Cuccinelli has a strong 47-30 positive job approval rating as attorney general. Forty-five percent of voters say he has the right experience to be governor to 25 percent who say he does not.
Voters say McAuliffe has the right experience by 31 to 26.
The Quinnipiac poll was conducted from May 8-13 and has a 3-point margin of error.