A look at where the Virginia Governor’s race stands, one week from Election Day:

The Washington Post, press arm for the Deeds campaign, released its final poll on the governor’s race. If there is a silver lining for Deeds, it must be that he’s down by only 11:

McDonnell holds double-digit advantages when it comes to dealing with the economy (plus 17 percentage points), transportation (16 points), taxes (25 points) and has overtaken Deeds as the one more trusted to handle issues of special concern to women (7 points)…

In bottom-line vote preference, independents now favor McDonnell, 61 to 36 percent, and women who consider themselves political independents are solidly behind the Republican. Independent women, who split about evenly between the two candidates in the weeks after the publication of McDonnell’s master’s thesis, now favor McDonnell 57 to 40 percent.

It gets worse. The latest SurveyUSA poll has Deeds down by 17, while Democrat outfit PPP has the margin at a much more reasonable, er, -15. Obama’s visit might help excite the Democrat base some, but Deeds will be extremely hard-pressed to overcome those abysmal numbers within the next week. It won’t help that he’s drastically cut back his ad spending, perhaps due to money woes, leading up to next Tuesday.

Unfortunately, the Post did not poll on the lieutenant governor and attorney general races, but both the SurveyUSA and PPP polls show the GOP candidates up big. Virginia does have a history of ticket-splitting, obviously, but I don’t see that happening this year.

As for “local” House races, or those most germane to the primary readers of this particular blog, I expect a GOP sweep. That is a very conservative, Republican area, and none of the seats in question (Lohr v. Hart, Landes v. Marrow, Bell v. Curren, Gilbert v. Leisinski, and any others in the Valley) are even on the radar in terms of potential Democrat pick-ups. They are the very definition of safe seats. Take a look, for example, at the recent voting history of the 26th District, the one currently represented by Lohr. Other than Warner, its all GOP by a wide margin. And what of the 25th, represented by Landes? Same thing, with even more of a GOP tilt. If these races were run last year, when Obama was exciting the Democrats and Republicans were holding their nose to vote for McCain, I would’ve said maybe one had a shot at winning. But, even that is stretching it. With a lackluster Democrat candidate at the top of the ticket and a mostly apathetic base, coupled with a political environment favorable to the GOP and strong candidates on that side, plus the money advantage, I’d be shocked if any of the Democrat House candidates reach even 45%. If one does it’ll probably be Hart I guess, given the relative closeness in the money race, or maybe Curren, since the 20th is apparently an open seat, but that’ll be as close as either is likely to get.

I’m interested to hear what others expect on Election Day. Not necessarily what you want to happen, but what you expect. Don’t be shy. I’m also curious to hear if anyone is still undecided about any of the races, or if you plan to sit it out. Frankly, I’ll be pleased the day after regardless, because that will mean no more ads!