Donald Trump broke his silence about the Virginia gubernatorial election between Republican Glenn Youngkin, and Democrat Terry McAuliffe.
While McAuliffe has desperately tried to tie Youngkin to the former president in a state that went for Joe Biden by 10 points just a year ago, that’s been difficult. That task may have gotten just a bit easier as Trump appears to have acknowledged Biden’s goading last night for him to interject himself into the race.
Biden is not only firing up Democrats but also seems to have another goal at tonight’s McAuliffe rally. He wants to persuade Donald Trump that he will weigh in on this race during the last week. Is Trump’s presence a problem? Does he feel embarrassed?” Biden spoke out about Youngkin.
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) October 27, 2021
Here’s the somewhat cryptic response, which states that Trump is going to visit Arlington, a heavily blue area that does not, in fact, love the former president.
Donald Trump heading to Virginia?
Arlington was just able to release this statement: Thank you! We will see you soon! pic.twitter.com/I268PVlqux
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) October 27, 2021
McAuliffe responded with sheer excitement at what he sees as a turn of fortune given his entire campaign has centered on repeating the word “Trump” over and over.
Donald Trump has come to Virginia to promote Glenn Youngkin, his carefully selected guy. All this MAGA-nonsense is ridiculous. This November, we will again defeat Trump!
— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) October 27, 2021
Some Republicans panicked and took to social media, declaring McAuliffe their certain winner. This was based on Trump’s perception that McAuliffe is a huge albatross. I personally think that’s a bit much, and I’ll explain why.
Is it wise for Trump to intervene so late in the game when Youngkin is already at a dead heat and there has been no controversy? No, it’s probably not a great strategic move if he comes to Virginia pre-election. Trump excels in some areas throughout the country. Arlington isn’t one of those areas. The moderate to left-leaning suburbanites in NOVA largely can’t stand him, and that’s a key demographic Youngkin is looking to make headway with. Also, it seems weak to believe that Trump is being influenced by Biden’s words. But that’s always been who the former president is. He’s going to respond to a slight, for better or worse.
Still, I think there’s no reason to freak out. Many Democrats are likely to have cast their ballots by early voting. Trump giving a wink and a nod to his supporters in rural Virginia, most of whom won’t vote until election day, that it’s time to turn out could actually help Youngkin on the margins. Further, a lot of the “Youngkin = Trump” stuff is already baked into the cake of the campaign. McAuliffe is a familiar face of the tune, and nobody seems to be buying it. Youngkin is his man and it shows. That’s not going to change because of a one-line statement from the former president.
Lastly, I’m not even sure Trump will actually show up pre-election. It’s too late for a rally to take place prior to the weekend, and he’ll be in Atlanta for the World Series on Saturday. That makes it unlikely any big event takes place before Tuesday’s vote. Therefore, McAuliffe’s chances of saying anything completely outlandish to win support is very slim.
To put it another way, Republicans need to keep on the offensive. Don’t worry about what Trump does or doesn’t do, and turn whatever it may be into a positive. Don’t be afraid to knock on doors and get the votes. This will help you put the race in the win column. There’s no use fretting about what you can’t control, and Trump will not be controlled. That’s just life as a Republican right now, whether you like the guy or not.
