National money pours into Virginia governors race
By Laura Vozzella July 25 at 9:08 PM
RICHMOND — The Republican and the Democrat running for Virginia governor each picked up seven-figure campaign contributions from national groups after their first debate.
Not 30 minutes after Ed Gillespie and Ralph Northam stepped off the debate stage Saturday, the Republican Governors Association announced it would plow $2 million into Gillespie’s campaign — on top of a previous $1 million donation. And on Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee said it would give $1.5 million to Northam, the state’s lieutenant governor. The DNC also dispatched three top staffers to Virginia to work with his campaign. That help is on top of the $1 million the Democratic Governors Association gave the day after the primary.
Also Tuesday, Gillespie announced that he will launch statewide TV ads — the first of the general election.
The race for Virginia governor is the country’s marquee statewide contest this year, and it is expected to draw national money and attention until the November election. Both parties are viewing the contest as a referendum on President Trump that could also presage the outcome of the 2018 midterms.
A recent Monmouth University poll of likely voters found Northam and Gillespie tied, at 44 percent each. They are vying to succeed Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a popular Democrat who is prohibited by law from seeking a consecutive term.
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