Democrats in Virginia are scrambling to stave off disaster in the state's governor's race - the most competitive major electio...
Democrats in Virginia are scrambling to stave off disaster in the state's governor's race - the most competitive major election since Donald Trump left the White House.
The surprisingly tight contest has exposed the depth of the party's dependence on Trump as a message and motivator.
Public polling has been shifting in Republican newcomer Glenn Youngkin's direction in recent weeks, while Democrat Terry McAuliffe, a former governor and close ally of President Joe Biden, has struggled to energize his base as Biden's approval ratings sink.
Youngkin - who has campaigned on 'fighting back against the Radical Left and putting families first' - on Saturday that he will not take part in Donald Trump's virtual 'tele-rally' for his campaign on Monday.
'I'm not going to be engaged in the tele-town hall,' said Youngkin. 'The teams are talking, I'm sure.'
Public polling has been shifting in Republican newcomer Glenn Youngkin's direction in recent weeks, while Democrat Terry McAuliffe, a former governor and close ally of President Joe Biden, has struggled to energize his base as Biden's approval ratings sink
Youngkin said on Saturday that he will not take part in Donald Trump's virtual 'tele-rally' rally for his campaign on Monday
'I'm not going to be engaged in the tele-town hall,' said Youngkin. 'The teams are talking, I'm sure
![In the early stages of his campaign, Youngkin said that 'Trump represents so much of why [he is]running.' He has also entertained claims that the 2020 Presidential election was rigged](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/31/05/49853993-10149297-image-a-69_1635659910990.jpg)
In the early stages of his campaign, Youngkin said that 'Trump represents so much of why [he is]running.' He has also entertained claims that the 2020 Presidential election was rigged
On Saturday, Trump publicly backed Youngkin, and predicted the the controversy surrounding the school boards in the state would boost Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin's chances of winning Tuesday's election.
Parents in the state have been fighting back against woke school boards where meetings have become a public battlefield. Hot button topics include banned books from school libraries parents had deemed inappropriate, the rights of transgender students, and the teaching of critical race theory.
In June, a father was arrested at a Loudoun County School Board meeting after he confronted board members about his 15-year-old daughter being raped in a gender-neutral bathroom by a boy, 15, wearing a skirt. The boy, who has not been named because he is a minor, has been charged and will be sentenced in November. He has also been charged with sexually assaulting another girl at a different school in the same Virginia school district in October.
'I've been watching the school board hearings more closely than I ever have, to be honest, and it's so interesting,' the former president told Fox News on Saturday.
'The parents are incensed. They're not terrorists. They're people that are just so upset.'
'I think he's going to do very well,' Trump said of Youngkin.
The former president hit out at McAuliffe for saying that parents should have no say in what their children are taught in school.
'McAuliffe made a tremendous mistake. It's not a tremendous mistake from his standpoint,' Trump said. 'He believes it.'
Trump said McAuliffe's statement would be just as 'bad' as Hillary Clinton's infamous comment calling supporters of the former president 'deplorables.'
'I think this is going to cause him tremendous problems come Tuesday,' he said.
Trump predicted that the Democratic strategy of linking Youngkin with him would backfire.
Although Trump hinted at a possible visit to Virginia in support of Youngkin, plans never materialized.
While Trump was absent, Biden attended a campaign event for McAuliffe in Arlington, Virginia.
Biden accused Youngkin of keeping Trump at an arm's length while privately approving of his endorsement and cashing in political points with Trump followers.
'Terry's opponent has made all of his private pledges of loyalty to Donald Trump,' Biden said.
'But what's really interesting to me, he won't stand next to Donald Trump. Think about it. He won't allow Donald Trump to campaign for him in this state. He's willing to pledge his loyalty to Trump in private,' Biden added, 'Why not in public? What's he trying to hide? Is there a problem with Trump being here? Is he embarrassed?'
In the early stages of his campaign, Youngkin said that 'Trump represents so much of why [he is]running.'
He has also entertained claims that the 2020 Presidential election was rigged.
While Trump was absent, Biden attended a campaign event for McAuliffe in Arlington, Virginia. President of the United States Joe Biden (L) speaks during a rally campaigned for Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Virginia, Terry McAuliffe
Biden accused Youngkin of keeping Trump at an arm's length while privately approving of his endorsement and cashing in political points with Trump followers
Glenn Youngkin, the Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia, campaigns in Northern Virginia in the waning days of the election
President of the United States Joe Biden (L), Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Virginia, Terry McAuliffe (C) and his wife Dorothy McAuliffe (R) attend a rally in Arlington
'It is just killing Trump that he [Youngkin] is not here, obviously,' McAuliffe said on Saturday. 'He is in the race, obviously he has endorsed Youngkin seven different times.'
Without Trump top of mind for many, and with headwinds from Washington, Democratic officials privately fear they may lose their first statewide election in Virginia in more than a decade on Tuesday.
Republicans, consumed by infighting and crisis while Trump was in office, are suddenly optimistic they can win in a state Trump lost by 10 percentage points last year.
'Virginia is a very blue state - I do not consider Virginia a purple state - so the fact that we´re this competitive speaks volumes about the state of our country and the popularity of Biden,' said Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel.
Recent polls indicate that Youngkin is surging over McAuliffe, while Democrats have tried to do damage control and have relied on anti-Trump rhetoric to maintain a sense of control in the state.
'Virginia is a very blue state - I do not consider Virginia a purple state - so the fact that we´re this competitive speaks volumes about the state of our country and the popularity of Biden,' said Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel (File picture)
The surprisingly tight contest has exposed the depth of the party's dependence on Trump as a message and motivator
Although Trump hinted at a possible visit to Virginia to support Youngkin, plans never materialized. Above, Former first lady and president of the United States Melania and Donald Trump look on during Game Four of the World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves Truist Park on October 30
A poll by The Washington Post showed the candidates are deadlocked, with McAuliffe leading Youngkin 49 to 48percent among likely voters.
The poll surveyed 1,107 registered voters from October 20 to October 26, 918 of whom are likely voters.
In the 2020 Presidential election, Virginia had a 76.6pecrent turnout. More than 54percent of the state voted for Biden, while 44percent voted for Trump.
'Democrats are facing DISASTER,' read an e-mail by the Democratic Governors Association for a last-minute fundraiser.
'We can't let the GOP break the Democratic firewall in Virginia - because what happens there will lay the groundwork for 2022,' the e-mail continued.
A loss in the Virginia governor's race, long considered a bellwether for midterm elections, would trigger all-out panic among Democrats far beyond Virginia.
The party is already wary about their chances in elections that will decide control of the House and Senate and statehouses next year.
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