VA is a crucial state in this election. If Republicans can't win VA, they pretty much HAVE to win OH, FL, and PA. If Democrats don't win it, they need to hope that the "272 freiwal" holds up. Good numbers for Clinton, especially since she's nearly at 50%.
Winning FL, OH and PA is precisely TRUMP's plan. He will try to win MI too.
You know you're up Sh!t Creek when your "game plan" and only real route to the White House involves winning states that haven't been won by your party in more than a quarter of a century.
With that being said:
It's gone. In the current political dynamic, it might as well be Wisconsin.
Of course, the Republican Party could moderate in the coming years and that could help put the state back into play - and certainly Republicans will continue to do well in statewide contests for quite some time - but the growth and trends we see in Virginia are too strong for a Generic R presidential candidate to overcome at this point. Frankly, I believe the tipping point for Virginia in presidential elections was reached circa 2006 - had it not been, I don't think Obama would have carried the state in 2012.
Now, if we ever get an actual leftist running for President, that might be enough to scare those rich NOVA-types back to the Republicans...
