VA-GOV has me feeling down on Dems for 2018, the Gillespie campaign is a good preview of what you will see from candidates across the country. Linking Dems to whatever bogeyman group whether it be MS-13/Antifa and using wedge issues like statues or the pledge. These issues seem to enough to bring home dissatisfied Rs and a good chunk of Indies who disapprove of Trump.
If that were the case then Gillespie would be ahead.
Trump lost Virginia. Even if Northam wins, which sadly isn't a given, if it's by less than Hillary that's a pretty disappointing showing for the Dems considering we're supposedly in the midst of a "Democratic wave" right now. Same for NJ, where it's looking like Dems will roughly match Hillary's margin despite the supposed "wave" and a host of other NJ-specific factors that should be putting the wind at our backs there.
I mean you can't necessarily compare Governor races and Congressional Races. For example, I support Kim Guadagno for NJ Governor but I can't fathom supporting a Republican for the House / Senate right now.
If that was the case then Handel would've lost, there's enthusiasm for the Democrats but it's in the wrong part of the nation.
