Delicate GOP dance for Trump, Youngkin in Virginia gov race

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — When Donald Trump rallied Republicans this previous week to vote for Glenn Youngkin for governor in Virginia, the previous president known as in to a gathering of die-hard supporters. Which may be the closest he will get to campaigning in essentially the most intently watched election of 2021.

Whereas schedules may change within the remaining weeks of the race, the 2 aren’t anticipated to end up collectively in particular person earlier than the Nov. 2 election towards Democrat Terry McAuliffe.

“Is Trump going to return to Virginia? Sure. However it is going to be after the election for a victory rally,” mentioned conservative speak present host John Fredericks, who served as Trump’s marketing campaign chairman within the state and in addition organized Wednesday’s occasion. Youngkin’s marketing campaign confirmed Friday it doesn’t have any plans for surrogates to affix him earlier than Election Day.

The dynamic displays the complex balancing act between Trump and Youngkin and will emerge as a mannequin for different Republicans who face aggressive campaigns in 2022.

Trump is the preferred determine in GOP politics and is keen to stay engaged. Youngkin wants Trump’s supporters to return out and can’t threat giving Trump a motive to activate him within the race’s remaining weeks. However Youngkin should keep away from being tied too intently to somebody who’s unpopular in essential swaths of the state, notably the suburbs that encompass Washington, D.C., and Richmond.

Youngkin steered clear of the Wednesday occasion that additionally featured longtime Trump strategist Steve Bannon. He quickly may discover himself charged with contempt for refusing to cooperate with a U.S. Home committee investigating the Capitol riot. The Republican rally drew outrage after attendees recited the Pledge of Allegiance to a flag that the emcee mentioned had been flown on the Jan. 6 riot. Youngkin later criticized using that flag.

Whereas Trump stays essentially the most highly effective drive within the get together 9 months after leaving workplace, he misplaced Virginia by 10 share factors in 2020 and is considered favorably by simply 44% of possible voters within the state, based on a recent Fox News poll.

If Trump had been to carry a rally within the state, “it could be a catastrophe for Youngkin,” mentioned Bob Holsworth, a longtime political analyst within the state, including, “The extra he exhibits up and he extra he participates, the more serious off it’s for Youngkin.”

On the rally, Trump praised Youngkin as “a fantastic gentleman,” whereas additionally spreading lies in regards to the 2020 election he misplaced to Democrat Joe Biden.

Democrats rapidly condemned what they mentioned was “Donald Trump’s insurrectionist rally.” McAuliffe’s marketing campaign reduce an advert that includes Trump’s reward for Youngkin, and the Democratic nominee held a brand new convention to criticize his opponent, for his concentrate on “harmful conspiracy theories” and his preliminary silence on the occasion itself.

Trump has little to achieve by spending rather more political capital on the race.

If Youngkin wins, Trump is certain to attempt to take credit score, citing his participation in Wednesday’s rally, his Might endorsement and any future efforts to get out the vote. If Youngkin loses, Trump can blame him for not aligning himself extra intently with the previous president.

“The one guys that win are the fellows that embrace the MAGA motion,” Trump mentioned in an interview with Fredericks. “After they attempt to go down a railroad observe, , ‘Hey, oh yeah, positive, I find it irresistible, find it irresistible. Oh yeah, I like Trump, love Trump, OK, let’s go, subsequent topic.’ After they try this, they by no means win. They by no means win. They must embrace it.”

Youngkin’s marketing campaign hasn’t featured many huge identify surrogates at his occasions, however McAuliffe has summoned Democratic star energy. Biden has appeared with McAuliffe and the ex-governor’s marketing campaign informed The Related Press that the president will return earlier than the vote. First girl Jill Biden joined McAuliffe at a rally Friday and former President Barack Obama will marketing campaign with him this coming week.

Representatives for Trump didn’t reply to questions in regards to the race. Youngkin’s marketing campaign didn’t reply to questions on Trump.

Youngkin has aimed his pitch extra towards reasonable and unbiased voters since profitable the first. Throughout that campaign, Youngkin declined to say whether or not Biden was pretty elected. Youngkin has since mentioned he believes Biden was — and that he doesn’t consider there was important fraud within the 2020 election.

As a substitute of following within the mould of different blue-state Republican governors like Maryland’s Larry Hogan and Massachusetts’ Charlie Baker, Youngkin has run on a solidly conservative set of platforms. He has embraced some GOP tradition conflict points and promised to assist reject the “left liberal progressive agenda” that he says is shaping Virginia.

After largely pivoting away from his concentrate on election integrity within the nomination contest, he’s centered marketing campaign appearances and advertisements on crime, taxes, faculty alternative and different points.

Democrats have criticized him for recent remarks about auditing the state’s voting machines and for campaigning with state Sen. Amanda Chase, a distinguished promoter of election falsehoods who’s garnered the nickname “Trump in heels.”

Youngkin has additionally beforehand mentioned Trump “represents a lot of why I’m working.”

“What Youngkin is making an attempt to do is he’s making an attempt to take care of the MAGA base whereas absorbing the suburban defectors from the Democrats. And that’s robust,” mentioned Holsworth,

Fredericks mentioned it was a profitable technique.

“Right here’s why Glenn Youngkin goes to win: We’re holding the Trump base collectively by a thread,” he mentioned. ”Glenn Youngkin and this marketing campaign has by no means deserted the core ideas which are vital to Trump voters, not sooner or later.”

Former Republican Gov. Jim Gilmore mentioned Youngkin has executed job of maintaining the race tightly centered on his candidacy.

“I believe that nationalizing this marketing campaign isn’t useful to both of the candidates,” he mentioned.

“Glenn’s received to be his personal man” and “run his personal” race, mentioned former U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, who represented a northern Virginia district for 14 years.

Davis mentioned he thinks Virginia voters are extra involved about Biden, whose approval ranking has slumped, than Trump. Folks voted for Biden “to get Donald Trump out of their lounge,” he mentioned. “However they didn’t vote for all these things that Biden’s bringing with him. And I believe they’re going to pump the brakes.”

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Colvin reported from New York.