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Youngkin ties McAuliffe to Trump in new ad
Virginia Democrats have been linking Donald Trump to the Republican gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin since he earned the nominating in May and Trump endorsed him the following day.
This rhetoric was once again ramped up Friday when Trump released a statement of support for Youngkin. “Wow, the numbers are really looking good for Glenn Youngkin in his race against Terry McAuliffe for Governor of Virginia,” Trump said in the statement.
But in a new campaign advertisement released today, the Youngkin campaign points to past comments from Trump where he talks about being friendly with the Democratic candidate, Terry McAuliffe.
“It’s totally dishonest for Terry McAuliffe to use President Trump’s endorsement to smear Glenn Youngkin, when McAuliffe is actually friends with Trump and took thousands of dollars from Trump to fund his campaign,” said Youngkin campaign spokesperson Matt Wolking. “The only person that McAuliffe has kissed up to more is Bill Clinton, or maybe Hillary Clinton – which is no doubt where he learned to be so dishonest.”
McAuliffe’s campaign responded Monday morning. "No amount of bogus advertising will hide Virginians from Glenn Youngkin's own words: that he is 'honored' to have Donald Trump's endorsement and 'Donald Trump represents so much' of why he's running,” said McAuliffe Spokesperson Christina Freundlich. “Glenn needs to buck up and face Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia Bar Association debate so they can hear him once again give praise to Donald Trump right from his own mouth."
The new ad from Youngkin is below:
Conservatives rally in Lynchburg as election season ramps up - News & Advance
by Rachel Smith
About 150 people gathered Saturday in Peaks View Park — decked out in American flag and MAGA apparel, waving Trump and Gadsden flags — for a kickoff event for the newly organized Virginians for America First group.
The Richmond-based nonprofit formed in the spring and is working to focus voters’ efforts on regaining a conservative majority in the Virginia House of Delegates in the November election. Democrats currently hold 55 House seats to Republicans’ 45.
Youngkin mum on abortion comments video during Abingdon GOP rally - Times News
by Mike Still
Abortion was not a topic during Saturday’s appearance by the Virginia GOP 2021 gubernatorial ticket in Abingdon, but Lyndon LaRouche’s name was.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin, joined by lieutenant governor running mate Winsome Sears and attorney general hopeful Jason Miyares, spoke before a crowd of about 80 supporters at Lois H. Humphreys Park.
Va. House candidate blocked from ballot after election official’s mistake - Virginia Mercury
by Graham Moomaw
As a self-described “progressive populist” who already ran for the General Assembly three times as a Green Party candidate or independent, Jeff Staples knows he probably wouldn’t win even if state officials let him on the ballot.
But he remains baffled as to why the State Board of Elections refused to do so despite proof the paperwork error preventing him from running against Del. Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, wasn’t his fault.
Trump's praise complicates Youngkin's attempted pivot to the political middle in Virginia
by Dan Merica and Michael Warren
Glenn Youngkin is doing everything he can to run as a Republican outsider in Virginia's gubernatorial election. But former President Donald Trump is muddling that strategy.
This problem for Youngkin was highlighted on Friday when the former President -- who handily lost Virginia in both 2016 and 2020 -- issued a statement praising the Republican businessman and attacking Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe, who led the commonwealth from 2014 to 2018.
Statue removals bring joy to many, though more work needs to be done, they say - Daily Progress
by Katherine Knott
Don Gathers, a local community activist, has prayed for the removal of Charlottesville’s Confederate statues but didn’t think he would live to see the day.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful,” he said Saturday of the empty pedestal that used to hold up the statue of Robert E. Lee. “It brings things back into perspective.”
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