Both sides believe the outcome likely will turn on which candidate — Gillespie or Democrat Ralph Northam — can best deploy their base voters on Nov. 7. Three of his four tweets about the Virginia race have mentioned crime, “killer gangs,” sanctuary cities or monuments to Confederate war heroes. In Virginia, the desire to appeal to voters attracted by such arguments is especially freighted, given the state’s history. For Gillespie, the aftermath of the Charlottesville protest provided an opening when Northam said Confederate statues should be taken down. Ed Gillespie will preserve them.”Other Gillespie ads are on more conventional ground, but employ tactics that critics say are designed to play on racial fears.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 01, 2017 09:56 UTC