The Mace of the Virginia House of Delegates is seen in the foreground as President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the First Representative Legislative Assembly Tuesday, July 30, 2019, at the Jamestown Settlement Museum in Williamsburg, Va. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
At The American Spectator, Michael Ginsberg and Ron Wright explain how President Trump could win the popular vote in Virginia, a state written off by many political pundits as solid blue. They write:
President Trump said it directly in his Newport News rally on September 15: the Trump campaign is going to make a “heavy play” for Virginia. He’s right to do so. Virginia represents a real under-the-radar pickup opportunity for his campaign. Every political pundit places the Commonwealth as a solid blue state in Biden’s electoral column, but facts on the ground point to a possible upset win for Republicans and President Trump.
Why do we think the Trump campaign is seizing on this opportunity to grab Virginia’s 13 Electoral College votes?
First, the polls are tightening.
Second, the Trump campaign’s ground game and voter outreach is outclassing Biden’s.
Third, President Trump has made real inroads with minority communities. Black voters make up one-fifth of the state’s electorate, and President Trump is moving the needle with Black (and Latino) male voters.
We should not forget President Trump had not won over Virginia or Republicans yet in 2016. He only won the Republican primary with 34.8 percent of the vote. That means in 2016, President Trump was not the first choice of 65.2 percent of Virginia Republicans.
Finally, there is one final important ingredient for why Virginia’s 2020 results likely will be different from 2016’s: in 2016, Virginia’s Sen. Tim Kaine was the vice-presidential nominee. Not so in 2020.So yes, Virginia, Santa may come early this year and deliver 13 electoral votes for Donald J. Trump.
Michael Ginsberg and Ron Wright are members of the Steering Committee of the Suburban Virginia Republican Coalition PAC.
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