The Virginia governorship election is finally here. It is going to be a tough race for many reasons. First, Virginia is now somewhat considered a ‘blue state.’
The reason is not far-fetched, as the Republican Party hasn’t won in the state since 2008. Besides, former President Donald Trump lost in the state against Joe Biden by 10 points in the 2020 presidential elections.
However, the Republican candidate Youngkin is becoming a force to reckon with in the state, and McAuliffe has his work cut out. Besides, maybe if McAuliffe didn’t make the election about Trump, he might have had a great chance in the election.
Instead, he spent most of his campaign convincing Virginians Youngkin is a Trump clone. Moreover, McAuliffe has done it so much that even CNN has criticized his obsession with the previous president.
McAuliffe said it’s not really about Trump on Saturday, even though he has cited the previous Republican president more than almost any other prominent politician.
Linking Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin to Trump seems to have been a core electoral tactic for McAuliffe ever since the beginning of the campaign. The statement comes on the last day of voting hours in Virginia.
Because Terry McAuliffe ran one of the worst campaigns I've seen in quite some time. pic.twitter.com/2NniDzkspo
— Frank the Leftist (@Leftist412) November 1, 2021
Virginia Voters Aren’t Concerned
McAuliffe has always feared what Democrat engagement would be like post-Trump and whether the party establishment would turn out in similar monumental proportions.
The Virginia Democrat launched his campaign against Youngkin by comparing the businessman-turned-politician to Trump, tying the two closely during every rally, television commercial, and appearance.
Because of the turnaround, concerns have been raised as to whether McAuliffe and Virginia Democrats have successfully made that link — and, perhaps more importantly, if people care as much about the issue as they anticipated.
Despite this, McAuliffe believes he hasn’t made the contest too much about Trump. When asked about his Saturday remark, McAuliffe said he doesn’t think he focused too much on Trump.
McAuliffe said Trump is unpopular in Virginia and people can recall when he disappointed them in Charlottesville when Trump stated there were good people on both sides.
He noted Trump is hostile and divisive and said Trump intends to run for president in 2024. McAuliffe believes the former president wants to utilize this as a springboard…and that’s why Trump promoted Youngkin so many times.
Given Trump’s loss in 2020, McAuliffe might just have a problem. Virginia residents may choose not to hear about a previous president who is no longer in power and is not on the ballot.
“Terry McAuliffe is missing what matters to Virginia voters,” says Salena Zito.
Biden is Losing It
“Glenn Youngkin hopes to take the Donald Trump-Betsy DeVos educational program to Virginia. Massive cutbacks to school systems and transferring taxpayer funding to private schools,” McAuliffe tweeted last week.
“We must stop them.” Even the left-leaning PolitiFact has questioned McAuliffe’s authenticity. McAuliffe’s also gone so far as to post “Youngkin = Trump” placards at his campaign appearances.
Terry McAuliffe: "We have a great school system in Virginia. Dorothy and I have raised our 5 children"
Narrator: He sent his kids to private school. pic.twitter.com/VypEg4Y0YH
— Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) October 31, 2021
Democrats may be in a far worse situation than they realize, not only in Virginia, but also across the country. Biden has risen to the status of the new rotten egg; public opinions about him have become the new barometer of unhappiness with the federal government.
