Latest poll gives McAuliffe lead in Va. governor’s race

By Dick Uliano
November 4, 2013 | 12:15 PM

WASHINGTON – A new poll shows Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe with a solid lead over Republican candidate state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli as the candidates near the finish line in the Virginia governor’s race.

The latest poll of 1,606 likely voters shows McAuliffe with a 46 percent to 40 percent lead.

“If the Las Vegas bookies were giving odds on this race, at this point, they’d make them very, very long against Mr. Cuccinelli,” says Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

“The odds are pretty substantial that Terry McAuliffe is going to win,” says Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Brown says Quinnipiac polls have registered little change over the past few weeks in the hard-fought campaign.

“Cuccinelli’s path to victory is a very, very difficult one at this stage. He would have to reverse a trend that has been present all year, in that he’s not doing as well among Republicans as McAuliffe is doing among Democrats.” Brown says.

The Quinnipiac poll, which has a margin of error of 2.5 percent, indicates that Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis is pulling 8 percent of the vote. Five percent of likely voters remain undecided.

Sabato says the race for state Attorney General is much closer than the Virginia governor’s race.

“This is where McAuliffe’s margin matters,” Sabato says.

A strong showing by McAuliffe would likely boost the winning chances for Democratic Attorney General candidate Mark Herring. But if the margin is narrow between McAuliffe and Cuccinelli, that could raise the prospect of a split ticket with a possible win by Republican candidate for Attorney General Mark Obenshain.

“You’re going to have a certain amount of coat tail,” Sabato says.

The Virginia State Board of Elections says polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
July 14, 2026 | 6:30 PM

Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers

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