The NRA survey found that critics of the group outnumber the sympathizers. | REUTERS Va. poll: Majority view NRA favorably

RICHMOND, Va. — A majority of Virginians view the National Rifle Association favorably, according to a poll conducted for the gun lobby.

The October survey, shared with POLITICO, asked 800 likely voters in the governor’s race if they generally agree with the goals and objectives of the NRA.


Thirty percent said they “strongly favor” and 21 percent said they “somewhat favor” the group’s goals. On the other side, 26 percent said they strongly oppose the group and 12 percent somewhat oppose.

The two candidates running for governor — Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli — have sharply different views on the gun issue. Both view it as a winning issue.

There is a significant regional divide in opinion. In Northern Virginia, the NRA survey found that critics of the group outnumber the sympathizers, 46 percent to 43 percent.

Outside of the D.C. media market, the NRA has a 19-point advantage in favorability.

It’s no coincidence that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s super PAC is spending $1.1 million on attack ads in the Washington media market over the final two weeks that seek to tie Cuccinelli to the NRA. The commercials are not running elsewhere.

In Norfolk, on the coast, NRA sympathizers outnumber those who disagree by 10 points: 49 percent to 39 percent.

Here in Richmond, sympathizers outnumber those who disagree by 26 points, 58 percent to 32 percent.

In the market that covers Roanoke and Lynchburg, NRA sympathizers outnumber those who disagree by 29 points, 58 percent to 29 percent.

At a forum for the gubernatorial candidates here on Saturday, Democratic frontrunner McAuliffe brought up the opposition of the NRA to his candidacy without prompting. He supports an assault weapons ban and expanded background checks.

“I’m not running to be president of the NRA,” he said. “I’m running to be governor of Virginia.”

Cuccinelli, who has an “A” rating and has benefited from a half-million dollar NRA investment in TV in the race, said he believes improving the state response to mental health is the best way to reduce gun violence.

Cuccinelli explained his opposition to requiring background checks at gun shows, which he said would not have stopped the massacres at Virginia Tech, Newtown or Aurora.

“No one has ever brought in a single crime that would have been stopped in Virginia based on closing this so-called loophole,” he said. “I am the leading advocate in Richmond for mental health reform.”

After the debate, Cuccinelli said that he was surprised by how much McAuliffe “threw the NRA under the bud again.”

“He is clearly going to be a gun-grabber,” Cuccinelli said.

The survey of 800 likely voters was completed Oct. 15 by the Republican firm OnMessage Inc.

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