RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - A few days before Virginians go to vote, it looks increasingly like Republicans will sweep three key offices.

Polls show former Attorney General Bob McDonnell with a lead in the race for governor, while Ken Cuccinelli and Bill Boling look primed to win their races for attorney general and lieutenant governor, respectively.

McDonnell's lead began to diminish in September after Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds made an issue out of a thesis McDonnell wrote 20 years ago.

The strategy may have backfired, though. Forty-two percent of those surveyed in a Roanoke College poll say Deeds ran a more negative campaign, while only 22 percent said McDonnell did. Thirty-six percent said neither/both.

The poll showed a 53-36 lead for McDonnell, Cuccinelli with a 47-32 lead over Steve Shannon and Boling with a 46-33 lead over Jody Wagner.

"These results suggest that it will be very difficult for Deeds to win in Virginia," said Dr. Harry Wilson, the director of the Center for Community Research.

"Deeds is facing a steep uphill battle in so far as he has a lot of ground to make up in one week, and the tide is not moving in his direction. McDonnell holds a significant lead among the key independent group. Deeds has to hope for a very large turnout among the core Democratic voters as well as the so-called 'Obama voters.'"

The poll showed Obama's popularity in Virginia, which Obama carried in last year's election, fleeting. Forty-six percent disapprove of his job as president, while 45 percent approve.

Roanoke College polled 569 likely voters, with a +/- 4.1 percent margin of error.

A Washington Post poll released Tuesday showed an 11-percent lead for McDonnell.

From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at jobrienwv@gmail.com.