Both Ken Cuccinelli and Terry McAuliffe were underwater in PPP's survey. | AP Photos Va. poll: Hopefuls' approval down

Virginians don’t like their choices in the state’s governor’s race.

Both former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli have underwater approval ratings in a Public Policy Polling survey released Wednesday, though McAuliffe leads the head-to-head poll, 42 percent to 37 percent. Only 29 percent of voters have a favorable opinion of McAuliffe, a businessman and close friend of former President Bill Clinton, while one-third have a negative opinion. A mere 32 percent like Cucinelli, a tea party ally considered a rising GOP star, while 44 percent have a negative view of the state’s top lawyer. PPP is a Democratic firm.


( PHOTOS: Ken Cuccinelli’s career)

Strangely, voters seem to be moving away from candidates as the election draws closer rather than making up their minds. PPP’s poll in January found McAuliffe with the same lead, but only 13 percent of voters were undecided. Twenty-one percent are undecided in the latest survey.

Other surveys found Virginia voters have a higher opinion of Cuccinelli and McAuliffe. Both got net positive ratings in a Quinnipiac University poll released earlier this month. That poll also showed a 5-percentage-point lead for the Democrat in the race to succeed Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell.

( PHOTOS: Terry McAuliffe’s career)

The poll of 672 voters was conducted May 24-26. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.