Ed Gillespie on Tuesday was readying to pivot from the Republican primary to the inhospitable terrain of a general election dominated by President Trump's low approval ratings.
In Virginia's gubernatorial nominating contest, Gillespie was expected to easily defeat Corey Stewart, the Prince William County Council chairman, and state Sen. Frank Wagner. Wagner ran as a pragmatic outsider, Stewart as a Trump acolyte who challenged Gillespie from the right, but neither ever developed momentum.
Next up for Gillespie is the winner of a competitive Democratic primary: either Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, backed by outgoing Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who has 2020 ambitions, or former Congressman Tom Perriello, preferred by far-left progressives.
Historically, the party in power in the White House loses Virginia's gubernatorial election, although McAuliffe won four years ago on the heels of President Barack Obama's re-election. That, and Trump's 43 percent approval rating in one June poll, present hurdles for Gillespie in this blue battleground state.
A Republican operative and veteran of Virginia campaigns said that Trump chaotic leadership and provocative Twitter habit risks "distracting" from Gillespie's kitchen table message of jobs and economic growth.
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05.03.2024