Leahy: As Northam Coasts, Gillespie Grinds On

Some observations as the Virginia gubernatorial race heats up….

Let’s make a few things clear about Virginia’s gubernatorial race.

The final result is going to be close. The national parties and national organizations will pour millions of dollars into the race. It may get ugly. For voters, it will become tiresome.

And the outcome will very likely be decided by an event entirely beyond the control of either candidate’s campaign.

The race is close now – tied, according to the Monmouth University poll released Monday.

That feels about right. Neither candidate generates the kind of reactions Terry McAuliffe (D) or Ken Cuccinelli (R) did during the 2013 race. And, even in that heated contest, the July polling showed a close race, within the margin of error.

This time around, we don’t have the personalities, issues or scandals that defined that race. For that, we should all be grateful.

But what we do have is something far more volatile: a Trump presidency.

Continue reading Norm Leahy’s latest column at The Washington Post.