VA-GOV 2017: Utter Panic and Doom (General election: Nov 7th)

[Deblano]

http://thehill.com/homenews/news/312769-former-democratic-rep-will-run-for-virginia-governor-report

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The coronation of Ralph Northam has come to a screeching halt lol.

Hopefully Northam ends up winning the primaries.


*** mod edit (6/14/2017): changed title again for general election in Nov

[publicunofficial]

I'd like to take this time to remind people that Ralph Northam threatened to join the Republicans in 2009 before he was talked out of it.

[Miles]

I've always liked Perriello, but I'll be volunteering for Northam. 

[Maxwell]

Perriello all the way! Reminder: Northam was this close to flipping parties.

[publicunofficial]

I've always liked Perriello, but I'll be volunteering for Northam. 

Any reason?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

He's got my support.

[The Other Castro]

Aides to Warner and Kaine say that both Senators still back Northam.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Perriello all the way! Reminder: Northam was this close to flipping parties.

[Mike Thick]

Perriello all the way! Reminder: Northam was this close to flipping parties.

Another reminder: if he had done so, it would have flipped Virginia State Senate from Democratic to Republican control.

[Figueira]

Does Perriello have any major electability issues?

[LabourJersey]

This is going to make the VA gubernatorial race a whole lot more interesting!

I hope Perriello wins.

[LabourJersey]

This is going to make the VA gubernatorial race a whole lot more interesting!

I hope Perriello wins.

[henster]

Northam has never lost an election and he was elected statewide with 55% of the vote, the highest of any Democrat in 2013. His military and medical background is also a huge plus in Virginia especially in the Hampton Roads area. I don't really see how Perriello is remotely a stronger candidate than Northam.

[The Other Castro]

Both would probably be favored against Gillespie (or whoever wins the GOP nomination), but this is still Northam's race to lose.

[Deblano]

Aides to Warner and Kaine say that both Senators still back Northam.

Well, they are both centrist Democrats (Warner, moreso), so I'm not surprised.

[Gass3268]

Northam has never lost an election and he was elected statewide with 55% of the vote, the highest of any Democrat in 2013. His military and medical background is also a huge plus in Virginia especially in the Hampton Roads area. I don't really see how Perriello is remotely a stronger candidate than Northam.

It helped he ran against E.W. Jackson.

[Figueira]

Aides to Warner and Kaine say that both Senators still back Northam.

Well, they are both centrist Democrats (Warner, moreso), so I'm not surprised.

Kaine is a pretty average Democrat, but he's obviously establishment.

[heatcharger]

Does Perriello have any major electability issues?

Not any that I've heard about him, although it's been a while (7 years) since he ran a campaign, so he might not be as polished as Northam might be.

My issue with Northam mainly is that he's totally anonymous for someone who won handily in 2013. A Quinnipiac poll from last month showed 64% of Dems had no opinion of him, and while he could make this up, he doesn't strike me as a particularly dynamic candidate.

That being said, I'm not buying that VA is Titanium D in all races. I'll wait to see if Dems can replicate Clinton's margins in NOVA before I say that. Gillespie is no joke either, so I just want the most electable candidate, which Northam very well may be. I'll have to see what develops in the next few months.

Both would probably be favored against Gillespie (or whoever wins the GOP nomination), but this is still Northam's race to lose.

I'm not sure, a PPP poll from July 2015 showed Mark Herring leading Northam 33-9 in the primary. Northam hasn't really done anything since then to raise his name ID.

[henster]

I think Northam's military background is a huge plus, as we saw with JBE in LA and Kander in MO & Greitens, veterans make great political candidates.

[publicunofficial]

Another point: If Perriello wins the Governor's race, he is immediately my hands-down favorite for 2020.

[KingSweden]

Another point: If Perriello wins the Governor's race, he is immediately my hands-down favorite for 2020.

I think this is his only real selling point over Northam, personally

[Maxwell]

Northam has never lost an election and he was elected statewide with 55% of the vote, the highest of any Democrat in 2013. His military and medical background is also a huge plus in Virginia especially in the Hampton Roads area. I don't really see how Perriello is remotely a stronger candidate than Northam.

Northam's 2013 opponent was a total loon who really should've been beat by much more. The feeling at the time was less "wow Northam's really electable" and more "wtf why isn't Northam campaigning more this kook is waaaay too close for comfort."

[The Other Castro]

Both would probably be favored against Gillespie (or whoever wins the GOP nomination), but this is still Northam's race to lose.

I'm not sure, a PPP poll from July 2015 showed Mark Herring leading Northam 33-9 in the primary. Northam hasn't really done anything since then to raise his name ID.

Endorsements aren't everything, but Northam does currently enjoy the support of three former Governors/two current Senators, as well as that same popular Mark Herring. Hopefully we get a poll of this match-up soon. I suppose involvement on Obama's part for Perriello could be a variable, since Perriello was a big ally of his in Congress.

[Deblano]

Another point: If Perriello wins the Governor's race, he is immediately my hands-down favorite for 2020.

I think this is his only real selling point over Northam, personally

"Vote for me for Governor so that I can run for President in 2020!"

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Perriello was one of the few Democrats that went down actually fighting in 2010 and never hid his support for President Obama. For that reason alone he has my support.