Bolling must address financial, polling deficits

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling has to raise millions of dollars and begin cutting what a new statewide poll shows is a huge advantage for two major party rivals if he plans to launch an independent gubernatorial bid.

With Saturday's scheduled General Assembly adjournment, Bolling would be freed of a state law that prevents him from raising money. That leaves him less than three weeks to see if he can approach a self-imposed $10 million threshold by his own March 14 decision deadline.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday shows 13 percent of 1,112 registered voters surveyed Thursday through Monday favor Bolling. In a three-way contest, Democrat Terry McAuliffe held 34 percent, putting him slightly ahead of Republican Ken Cuccinelli.

Bolling abandoned longtime plans to seek the GOP bid last fall.