Only 38-percent of Virginians approve of President Donald Trump’s performance in office. His low approval rating has the state GOP in a bind, as they look towards a tight governor’s race this fall.
Pundits across the country are billing the race as the next referendum on the President. But Virginia’s Republican Party is trying to keep the focus on the state.
John Whitbeck is Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia. He’ll tell you outright there’s a lot riding on this year’s race for Governor.
“Virginia’s a swing state, but it’s not a swing state anymore if we don’t win this,” Whitbeck said. “Because if we don’t win this race we have to accept the fact that we’ve become a blue state and we just don’t want to let that happen.”
But Whitbeck is confident in the GOP nominee. Ed Gillespie is a former lobbyist and counselor to George W. Bush. While he’s lagged in polls behind Democrat Ralph Northam, a large chunk of voters are still undecided.
To sway those undecided voters, the Republican strategy is to keep the focus local. Gillespie has issued 12 policy agendas, ranging from growing Virginia’s outdoor economy to addressing sea level rise.
“It voters are going to the polls voting on Virginia issues, we’re going to win this race,” Whitbeck said. “If voters go to the polls and somehow the race is nationalized then we start to get in the danger zone.”
Democrats agree, and that’s left them with a clear strategy: tie Gillespie to President Donald Trump.
If we don't win this race we have to accept the fact that we've become a blue state and we just don't want to let that happen.
One day this summer, a tiny group of Democrats gathered on the lawn of the state capitol, kicking off a PR-campaign. They waved fake “Gillespie-Trump” campaign signs, like the two were on a ticket together.
“This is a serious election here that we have in Virginia and the fact of the matter is, and the harsh reality is, is that a vote for Ed Gillespie is a vote for Donald Trump,” said Susan Swecker, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia.
Democrats have kept up heavy pressure on Gillespie to renounce the President. After Charlottesville, they launched an email campaign counting each day the Republican nominee didn’t criticize the President’s reaction to a white supremacist rally there.
When asked whether the race for Virginia’s governor, should be about Trump at all, Swecker says yes.
“When he says that he’s going to eliminate the Appalachian regional commission, cut Amtrak funding, cut funding for healthcare that devastates those people that he said he was going to help, absolutely it’s a referendum on him.”
Gillespie has walked a fine line, often not responding publicly to the President’s actions and avoiding direct questions on the issues.
He says a willingness to work with Trump is a good thing, federal spending accounts for 20-percent of the state’s economy. And Whitbeck, the GOP party chair, says Trump voters will be integral to winning for Republicans.
One of those Trump voters is Richard Hile, who owns a small business sharpening knives. He calls himself a “dyed-in the wool” Republican.
Although he voted for Trump, he says he’d be surprised if the President makes it four years.
“But it’s gonna be his own fault. Nothing I can do about that,” said Hile.
Hile says he’ll be voting for Governor this November, and he’ll vote Republican. And that choice, has nothing to do with the President.
