In what appears to be a tight race for Virginia governor, Democratic nominee Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam is betting that Republican Ed Gillespie can't survive if he's tied to President Donald Trump.
In the ad "Refuses," Northam speaks to camera and contrasts his approach to Trump with Gillespie's.
Before laying into Gillespie, Northam first takes pains to portray himself as nonpartisan: "As a doctor, nobody ever asked if I'm a Democrat or Republican. They just want my help. So if Donald Trump is helping Virginia, I'll work with him."
Then Northam pivots hard, making clear he expects little from Trump: "But Donald Trump proposed cutting Virginia school funding, rolling back our clean air and water protections, and taking away health care from thousands of Virginians."
Does talking about the president make sense in a state race? According to NBC News' Mark Murray, the Northam campaign believes so because polls indicate "the persuadable middle in the state is largely opposed to the president." But the Gillespie campaign counters by saying Northam is not focusing on his own plans for the state. Murray concludes, "If Northam wins ... Democrats will see opposition to Trump as a successful strategy for next year’s midterm races, particularly in Democratic-leaning states ... But if Gillespie is elected, Republicans will have a playbook on how to win — even when their president isn’t popular."
In the ad "Refuses," Northam speaks to camera and contrasts his approach to Trump with Gillespie's.
Ralph Northam Insists He Can Work With Trump...
Northam is ID'ed on screen as "Pediatrician and Lt. Governor" and he speaks with the gentle tone of a kindly pediatrician.Before laying into Gillespie, Northam first takes pains to portray himself as nonpartisan: "As a doctor, nobody ever asked if I'm a Democrat or Republican. They just want my help. So if Donald Trump is helping Virginia, I'll work with him."
Then Northam pivots hard, making clear he expects little from Trump: "But Donald Trump proposed cutting Virginia school funding, rolling back our clean air and water protections, and taking away health care from thousands of Virginians."
...While Arguing Ed Gillespie Can't Stand Up to Trump
He closes with, "I've stood up to Donald Trump on all of it. Ed Gillespie refuses to stand up to him at all."Does talking about the president make sense in a state race? According to NBC News' Mark Murray, the Northam campaign believes so because polls indicate "the persuadable middle in the state is largely opposed to the president." But the Gillespie campaign counters by saying Northam is not focusing on his own plans for the state. Murray concludes, "If Northam wins ... Democrats will see opposition to Trump as a successful strategy for next year’s midterm races, particularly in Democratic-leaning states ... But if Gillespie is elected, Republicans will have a playbook on how to win — even when their president isn’t popular."