WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden campaigned Tuesday evening for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe within the closing stretch of a race that might function an early indicator of Democrats’ prospects in subsequent yr’s midterm elections.
Biden, who has not often talked about former President Donald Trump by title since taking workplace, took direct purpose at his predecessor by saying Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin would additional Trump’s agenda.
“Terry’s opponent not solely embraces somebody with such lack of character, he endorses Donald Trump’s unhealthy concepts and unhealthy document,” Biden mentioned. “Right this moment’s Republican Social gathering nationally is for nothing.”
Polls present McAuliffe with a slim lead over Youngkin, a former personal fairness govt and a first-time candidate. The identical surveys additionally point out that Republicans are extra motivated to vote, leaving Democrats scrambling within the closing week of the marketing campaign to prove their base in a state Biden gained final yr by 10 proportion factors.
McAuliffe had been encouraging members of Congress to move Biden’s financial agenda — the bipartisan infrastructure invoice, coupled with the Democrats’ social security web invoice — forward of the Nov. 2 election, in hopes that it might energize Democratic voters within the state.
However with simply days left within the race, there proceed to be main disagreements amongst reasonable and progressive Democrats, notably over key points like paid household go away. Whereas Biden and Democratic management have insisted {that a} deal is shut, it’s trying much less possible that the president’s agenda will make it by means of Congress earlier than Tuesday’s election.
Talking forward of Biden, McAuliffe promised Virginians he would ship on a variety of insurance policies together with inexpensive little one care, paid sick and household medical go away and inexpensive pharmaceuticals — all gadgets that seem prone to be scaled again or faraway from the social security web invoice.
Shortly earlier than the marketing campaign occasion, Biden met on the White Home with Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., the 2 Senate Democrats who’ve chipped away at Biden’s “Construct Again Higher” proposal.
Biden, a longtime McAuliffe buddy, has been largely faraway from the Virginia governor’s race, attending just one different marketing campaign occasion over summer time. McAuliffe not often mentions Biden on the marketing campaign path, as a substitute focusing his messaging on Trump, whose presidency drove Democrats to the polls in document numbers in 2020.
Youngkin has tried to unite Virginia Republicans and produce collectively each Trump supporters and defectors. Though Youngkin accepted Trump’s endorsement, he has not campaigned with him and has largely targeted his consideration on native points.
Biden zeroed in on Youngkin’s relationship with Trump on Tuesday evening.
“He’s keen to pledge his loyalty to Trump in personal, why not in public?,” Biden mentioned. “What’s he making an attempt to cover? Is there an issue with Trump being right here?”
Turnout for Virginia gubernatorial races traditionally drops off in comparison with presidential elections, a pattern that usually disadvantages Democrats. Roughly 3.98 million Virginians participated within the 2016 presidential election, in comparison with 2.61 million within the 2017 gubernatorial contest — a 34 p.c drop-off. Whereas Gov. Ralph Northam gained in 2017 by Democrat’s largest latest victory, turnout had additionally declined the least that yr from the earlier presidential election.
Tuesday’s marketing campaign occasion adopted latest high-profile appearances by former President Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris, Democratic Nationwide Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison and former Georgia gubernatorial nominee and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams.
Virginia, which holds off-year elections together with New Jersey, is usually seen as an early barometer of how a sitting president is doing forward of their first midterm elections.
Democrats have a slim majority within the Home and might want to defend their seats as congressional districts are redrawn this election cycle. If Democrats lose a single seat within the Senate subsequent yr, Republicans will take management of the chamber.
