REPRINTED FROM THE CONSERVATIVE
BRIEF
Jonathan Davis November 2, 2021
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is sounding the alarm as Virginians head to the polls on Tuesday Democrats in the state will try to “steal” the gubernatorial race if it is close.
“First of all, if it’s really tight, they’ll (Democrats) steal it, so you can’t afford to have a really tight election,” Gringrich said Monday night during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. “You have to win by a big enough margin that they can’t steal it.”
The former Georgia Republican went on to speculate about the impact of the race if Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin defeats his Democratic challenger and former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe.Advertisement
“If Youngkin wins, which I think he will if everybody turns out to vote tomorrow, if Youngkin wins, this is an earthquake,” Gingrich said. “If Youngkin almost wins, it’s an interesting tremor, but it’s not gonna shake things up.
He went on to note that Vice President Kamala Harris, who was recently in Virginia to campaign for McAuliffe, said that if Democrats lose on Tuesday then nationally, Democrats will lose in Congress next year as well as 2024.
He also said that should Youngkin pull out a victory, it will also mean that Democrats’ “socialist” agenda is likely going to be stopped as well.
“This is the beginning of a tidal wave,” he added.
On Monday, former President Donald Trump voiced similar concerns about election integrity in the Old Dominion State, also suggesting that the best Republican defense against any alleged improprieties was a massive turnout.
“I am not a believer in the integrity of Virginia’s elections, lots of bad things went on, and are going on,” Trump said. “The way you beat it is to flood the system and get out and vote. Remember this, Glenn Youngkin is a good man, a hardworking man, a successful man. He loves Virginia and wants to cut your taxes, save your children’s education, and many other very good things.”Advertisement
“Terry McAuliffe is a low-life politician who lies, cheats, and steals. He was a terrible high-tax governor and would be, if elected, an even worse governor again,” he added.
Trump went on to note that McAuliffe and the state’s Democrats have appeared to make it seem as though Trump and Youngkin have had a falling out, which the former president also sought to debunk.
“The Fake News media, together with some of the perverts doing ads ad nauseam on primarily Fox (Fox shouldn’t take those ads!), are trying to create an impression that Glenn Youngkin and I are at odds and don’t like each other,” he said.
“Importantly, this is not true, we get along very well together and strongly believe in many of the same policies. Especially when it comes to the important subject of education,” Trump said in his statement, issued via his Save America PAC.Advertisement
“The reason the Fake News and perverts are working over time is to try and convince people that we do not like each other, and therefore, my great and unprecedented Make America Great Again base will not show up to vote,” he noted further.
McAuliffe took an early lead in the polls as the election cycle began, Youngkin has steadfastly eroded that lead and is now polling dead even or ahead in the most recent surveys, including a Fox News poll last week showing the GOP contender in the driver’s seat:Advertisement
Among the larger pool of registered voters, it’s a one-point race: McAuliffe 47 percent vs. Youngkin 48 percent. Two weeks ago, McAuliffe led among registered voters by 11 points, 52-41 percent.
What changed? GOP enthusiasm. The race is largely focused on education and this has energized Republicans, as 79 percent of Youngkin supporters are “extremely” interested in the election compared to 69 percent of McAuliffe supporters.
“With the race essentially tied among the full registered voter universe, McAuliffe could still pull this off,” Democratic pollster Chris Anderson said. “But it would take something big to ignite enthusiasm for McAuliffe’s candidacy and a massively effective get out the vote effort.”