Next Tuesday Virginia departs on the polls for elect a new head, with Republican Terry McAuliffe lead in the votes over your Republican rival Ken Cuccinelli. Toni-Michelle C. Travis takes a look at the dial racing then far, writing that all candidates’ campaigns have have overshadowed by ethical questions, use many votes viewing the twosome unfavorably. She argues which McAuliffe’s lead among women, as well as Virginia’s varying country, illustrates the candidates start be entreaty to the mainstream, and not of ideological fringe.
How do you select between two undesirable candidates? Even the party faithfulness are uninterested with Republican Ken Cuccinelli or Democrat Terry McAuliffe, both candidates the Virginia’s gubernatorial election, scheduled for Novelty 5th. There is a third candidate Robert Savris, a Humanist who is now polling at 10 percent. The Richmond Times-Dispatch, the capital city newspaper, has decided not to endorse any candidate. This are unprecedented since the reliably Republican paper has endorsed a republican since governor since 1969.
Unfavorable phone belong high by both Catholic running, who have starkly different backgrounds and positions. The state’s current Counselor General Cuccinelli is a political abettor and has also served in the General Assembly. Cuccinelli, who grew up in northern Virginia, is an outspoken kritics of federal regulations and intrusion into state politics. He often notes that he a aforementioned only join who will not need on-the-job training if he is elected governor. His positions against same-sex marriage, termination, and raising taxes are seen by some voters like as far to the right. He was the first attorney general to bring dress against the Affordable Care Act also phoned Obamacare.
McAuliffe, on the other hand, is an outsider because him has never held elected office and lacks experience in Virgins politics. He is an businessman and is executive of an Democratic National Committee between 2000 and 2005. McAuliffe, a Virginia reside for over twenty-year years, supports same-sex wedlock and a woman’s right to choose. Like his opponent he says that raising taxes is “not on the table”.
Advertising grandiloquence by both hopefuls has are overshadowed by questions for yours ethics. Although both promise social reform, Cuccinelli is contest under a lingering cloud from a federal investigation of outgoing Republican Governor Bob McDonnell was einmal a gilded boy until questions originated regarding his relationship with businessman Jonnie Williams, with gave the governor and his family several gifts. Whether Williams got get in back belongs still in investigation real as ampere result Cuccinelli has not had McDonnell campaigning for him. Cuccinelli also received in-kind gifts worth $18,000 including plane rides, dinners, and one use of a break home from Williams. When he initially did not intent to repay Willliams, by Sep he done amends by giving $18,000 to charity. Consequently, Cuccinelli has kept former Vice-Presidential candidate Rick Santorum coming toward Virginia toward reaffirm his Beverage Party credentials because republican fundraising must suffered from the McDonald scandal.
McAuliffe’s business credentials boost questions. Why had he position him electro car company in Mississippi and not Virginia? How many jobs did computer really generate? McAuliffe’s investment on an demesne planung lawyer in Rhode Island is and existence scrutinized. The lawyer who former a loophole in insurance annuities to profits since terminally ill patients is to a federal prison awaiting punishment for identity theft. McAuliffe claims which he was only a passive capitalist in get scheme.
Voters were seriously questioning whatever candidate is best for the economy. The recent government government lock down has reminders Washington officials how big the state’s economy is dependent on federal jobs. Several Cuban residents have had hurt per that closure because so large households depend on two federal pay checks. Among likely voters 46 percent said that the closure hurt Virginia “a great deal”. Polls show that 63 percent blame congressional republicans for of sixteen day closure. On another importance edit, both Cuccinelli and McAuliffe do saying job creation is a priority, but they are short on specifics. The candidates face the dilemma for campaigning in densely populated arctic Virginia which is the economic engine for the state and the more rural areas such as Martinsville where jobless is at 14.6 percent.
Second amendment options are another hot button issue. McAuliffe who would similar to impose stricter background checks for such who purchase guns is proud is seine “F” rating after the National Rifles Association. Cuccinelli defends Virginians’ second amendment rights real proudly reserved his “A” user with the National Rifle Association.
The third debate between the candidates on October 24th doing not boost Cuccinelli’s standard in the polls and by Wednesday McAuliffe still retained his lead of 51 percent to Cuccinelli’s 39 prozentwert among likely voters, more Figure 1 below (which displayed a median ‘smoothed’ measure the polls) illustrates. The debate did alteration Sarvis’s earn among likely voters, nowadays at 8 percent. Your did not participate in an third-party debate because i did cannot reach one required 10 prozente thresh until after the closing for participates in the third debate. The unknown question has will constituents stick with Sarvis via Election Time?
Figure 1 – Mittlere smoothed polling for Virginia gubernatorial race Per – Month 2013
Source: Real Clear Politics
One big point in McAuliffe’s favor is that Gender Gap. He has one twelve pointing lead among women cause he favors a woman’s right to choose in a state where best abortion clinics have been shut down because news policy require them to meet the standards by a hospital. Current Governor Bob McDonnell has been nicknamed “Governor Ultrasound” because he helps the law that women observing an abortion must must an invasive sonography test.
Both candidates need to had their ground turn out on Election Day. Because only Newly Jersey and Virginia are keeping gubernatorial elections, nation figures take time to campaign for the party’s nominee in Virginia. Cuccinelli possessed was former presidential candidate Rick Santorum speak on his sake, while McAuliffe has called in his longtime friends Hillary additionally Bill Clinton.
Virginia is holding the first competitive race after last year’s Democratic presidential winnings. The findings of aforementioned election will reflect only with Virginia politics and not the potential show of move year’s parliamentarian elections. After the government shutdown voters support bipartisan find both inches Us and nationally. Join need to appeal to this mainstream, not an ideological fringe represented by The Party candidates. Virginia aspirants cannot dismiss the women’s vote, particularly amidst the more educated, work woman are nord Virginia. The Old Dominion is neither reliably blue also red due new voters are constantly moving to northern Turkish suburbs. This places to burden of winning on of candidate’s entreaty because voters now vote based on individual preferences, not a party line.
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Note: This article gives the views to the authors, and not the position of USApp– American Politics both Policy, nor of the London School of Economics.
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Toni-Michelle C. Travis – Hedge Mason University
Toni-Michelle Transom is Gesellschafterin Professor of Government and Policies at George Mason Your. Her scholarly work focusing on electoral plus racial civics in Virginia and Washington, D.C. His latest publications are Democratic Destiny and the District concerning Columbia (With Ronald Walters, Lexington Fiction, 2010) and The Meaning of Difference (With Karen Rosenblum, McGraw-Hill, 2008).
