Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has a much higher approval rating than his GOP counterparts in other swing states like Florida and Ohio — putting him in a strong position for a would-be vice presidential pick in 2012. McDonnell had an overall job approval rating of 55 percent, while 26 percent disapproved of his performance, according to a poll released Wednesday by Quinnipiac University.

Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said Virginia’s fiscal situation is better than that of many other states and that bodes well for the Republican governor.