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| Covid-19 puts crimp in 2021 race for Virginia governor | Covid-19 puts crimp in 2021 race for Virginia governor |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| RICHMOND — Terry McAuliffe, Virginia's mile-a-minute ex-governor, is stuck at home at a moment when he could be promoting Joe Biden for president and his own potential comeback bid for governor in 2021. | |
| He’s making the most of Zoom, a video conferencing app, but it’s not retail politicking as the former Democratic National Committee chief has known it. | |
| “I’m busy as I’ve ever been, but it’s different,” said McAuliffe, who between video chats has alphabetized every spice tin and soup can in his McLean kitchen. “You’re not shaking hands. You’re not hugging anybody. … I love that part of it. I’ve just had to learn to adapt.” | “I’m busy as I’ve ever been, but it’s different,” said McAuliffe, who between video chats has alphabetized every spice tin and soup can in his McLean kitchen. “You’re not shaking hands. You’re not hugging anybody. … I love that part of it. I’ve just had to learn to adapt.” |
| Running for office during a pandemic means running in place. And the effects aren’t confined to this year’s contests. Covid-19 is putting a severe crimp on next year’s race for Virginia governor — a contest McAuliffe seems to be inching closer to entering. | Running for office during a pandemic means running in place. And the effects aren’t confined to this year’s contests. Covid-19 is putting a severe crimp on next year’s race for Virginia governor — a contest McAuliffe seems to be inching closer to entering. |
| “I get asked [about running] every call,” said McAuliffe, who spends most of his days on Zoom trying to rally Democrats across Virginia and the country for Biden, a friend of 40 years. “And I tell everyone I’m focused on Biden. That’s my top [priority]. … But I tell people it’s a strong possibility that I’ll be running again. | “I get asked [about running] every call,” said McAuliffe, who spends most of his days on Zoom trying to rally Democrats across Virginia and the country for Biden, a friend of 40 years. “And I tell everyone I’m focused on Biden. That’s my top [priority]. … But I tell people it’s a strong possibility that I’ll be running again. |
| “Our state is going to face tremendous challenges, and those are the types of challenges that get me excited.” | “Our state is going to face tremendous challenges, and those are the types of challenges that get me excited.” |
| The governor’s race should be in full swing in the commonwealth, with nominating contests about a year away. By this time four years ago, Democrat Ralph Northam had a campaign staff in place and countless meet-and-greets behind him, while Republican Ed Gillespie had raised nearly $1 million and driven the length of the state along Route 58. | The governor’s race should be in full swing in the commonwealth, with nominating contests about a year away. By this time four years ago, Democrat Ralph Northam had a campaign staff in place and countless meet-and-greets behind him, while Republican Ed Gillespie had raised nearly $1 million and driven the length of the state along Route 58. |
| Sign up for our Coronavirus Updates newsletter to track the outbreak. All stories linked in the newsletter are free to access. | Sign up for our Coronavirus Updates newsletter to track the outbreak. All stories linked in the newsletter are free to access. |
| This time around, there’s no glad-handing. Rallies have been canceled, kickoffs nixed as Gov. Northam declared a state of emergency and banned gatherings of more than 10 people. | This time around, there’s no glad-handing. Rallies have been canceled, kickoffs nixed as Gov. Northam declared a state of emergency and banned gatherings of more than 10 people. |
| Even fundraising has hit the skids. Although dialing for dollars poses no public health risk, it’s an awkward enterprise with people losing loved ones and jobs, and well-heeled political donors reeling from stock market losses. | Even fundraising has hit the skids. Although dialing for dollars poses no public health risk, it’s an awkward enterprise with people losing loved ones and jobs, and well-heeled political donors reeling from stock market losses. |
| “Obviously people are dying, and we don’t want to be doing political, asking-for-money stuff,” said an aide to one contender, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly about a sensitive subject. “There’s no way to segue into, ‘Oh yeah, 73 people are dead and give us 100 bucks.’ ” | “Obviously people are dying, and we don’t want to be doing political, asking-for-money stuff,” said an aide to one contender, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk candidly about a sensitive subject. “There’s no way to segue into, ‘Oh yeah, 73 people are dead and give us 100 bucks.’ ” |
| To veterans of past campaigns, the rhythms are out of whack. | To veterans of past campaigns, the rhythms are out of whack. |
| “It feels like everything is frozen,” said Tucker Martin, who served on campaigns for three of the last four Republican gubernatorial hopefuls. “Nobody has a road map.” | “It feels like everything is frozen,” said Tucker Martin, who served on campaigns for three of the last four Republican gubernatorial hopefuls. “Nobody has a road map.” |
| Democrats had been bracing for an unusually lively primary, with a large number of party figures planning or publicly flirting with a run. They include McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, Attorney General Mark R. Herring, Del. Jennifer D. Carroll Foy (Prince William), state Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan (Richmond) and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. | Democrats had been bracing for an unusually lively primary, with a large number of party figures planning or publicly flirting with a run. They include McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, Attorney General Mark R. Herring, Del. Jennifer D. Carroll Foy (Prince William), state Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan (Richmond) and Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. |
| Northam cannot run because Virginia prohibits its governors from serving back-to-back terms. That would not bar McAuliffe, who left office in January 2018; he’s been weighing a bid since opting out of this year’s presidential primary. The filing deadline, typically in the spring, has not yet been set. | Northam cannot run because Virginia prohibits its governors from serving back-to-back terms. That would not bar McAuliffe, who left office in January 2018; he’s been weighing a bid since opting out of this year’s presidential primary. The filing deadline, typically in the spring, has not yet been set. |
| Virginia Republicans look for a way out of the woods | Virginia Republicans look for a way out of the woods |
| So far, the field is smaller for Republicans, who have not won a statewide race here since 2009. State Sen. Amanda F. Chase (R-Chesterfield) is the lone declared candidate. Pete Snyder, a Northern Virginia technology entrepreneur who lost the 2013 GOP nomination for lieutenant governor, has said he is considering a run. | So far, the field is smaller for Republicans, who have not won a statewide race here since 2009. State Sen. Amanda F. Chase (R-Chesterfield) is the lone declared candidate. Pete Snyder, a Northern Virginia technology entrepreneur who lost the 2013 GOP nomination for lieutenant governor, has said he is considering a run. |
| Alone among contenders, Chase has found ways to appear before large crowds at a time of social distancing. She has twice spoken at drive-in church services, including one on Mother’s Day. On Wednesday, she led a demonstration on Capitol Square against Northam’s coronavirus restrictions on businesses and social gatherings. | Alone among contenders, Chase has found ways to appear before large crowds at a time of social distancing. She has twice spoken at drive-in church services, including one on Mother’s Day. On Wednesday, she led a demonstration on Capitol Square against Northam’s coronavirus restrictions on businesses and social gatherings. |
| But she had to scrap 53 rallies and other events planned between March and April, including an appearance at Liberty University. | But she had to scrap 53 rallies and other events planned between March and April, including an appearance at Liberty University. |
| Carroll Foy scuttled her plans for a “major announcement” after the General Assembly adjourned in March. She filed her candidate paperwork in April with no fanfare. | Carroll Foy scuttled her plans for a “major announcement” after the General Assembly adjourned in March. She filed her candidate paperwork in April with no fanfare. |
| Many contenders say the health and economic crises have rightly shifted their attention away from campaigning and toward serving constituents who are suffering physically or financially. | Many contenders say the health and economic crises have rightly shifted their attention away from campaigning and toward serving constituents who are suffering physically or financially. |
| Herring is staying in touch with supporters by phone and video, “but for the most part he is focused on his important work as attorney general,” including taking action against “price gouging, evictions and utility cutoffs,” said Tommy Keefe, director of his political action committee. | Herring is staying in touch with supporters by phone and video, “but for the most part he is focused on his important work as attorney general,” including taking action against “price gouging, evictions and utility cutoffs,” said Tommy Keefe, director of his political action committee. |
| McClellan has worked behind the scenes to sort out snags with small-business loans and unemployment benefits, and she has helped local funeral directors secure personal protective equipment, her spokesman said. | McClellan has worked behind the scenes to sort out snags with small-business loans and unemployment benefits, and she has helped local funeral directors secure personal protective equipment, her spokesman said. |
| She has conducted virtual meetings with the local, state and national groups — from Richmond-area domestic workers to the Center for American Progress — whose support she will need if she moves ahead with a run. She has seven Zoom calls scheduled this week. | She has conducted virtual meetings with the local, state and national groups — from Richmond-area domestic workers to the Center for American Progress — whose support she will need if she moves ahead with a run. She has seven Zoom calls scheduled this week. |
| Snyder created a fund to help businesses meet payroll and other expenses until federal help arrives — a move he said was unrelated to his potential campaign. | Snyder created a fund to help businesses meet payroll and other expenses until federal help arrives — a move he said was unrelated to his potential campaign. |
| The crisis has handed contenders a chance to demonstrate leadership, and some are offering the current governor friendly (and not-so-friendly) advice. | The crisis has handed contenders a chance to demonstrate leadership, and some are offering the current governor friendly (and not-so-friendly) advice. |
| How Gov. Ralph Northam decided when Virginia might emerge from shutdown | How Gov. Ralph Northam decided when Virginia might emerge from shutdown |
| Fairfax urged Northam in a March 18 letter to take “bolder and swifter” action to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, including closing schools for the year. At the time, only Kansas had gone that far. Northam followed suit on March 23. | Fairfax urged Northam in a March 18 letter to take “bolder and swifter” action to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, including closing schools for the year. At the time, only Kansas had gone that far. Northam followed suit on March 23. |
| “People in this moment are focused on leadership and not politics,” said Fairfax, who has held conference calls with pastors and others struggling with the shutdown. “Anyone who is talking politics right now is out of step with the needs of the people.” | |
| Carroll Foy, who held a virtual town hall May 5 with front-line workers, has peppered Northam on Twitter on a wide range of coronavirus issues — from mandating masks on public transit and releasing certain inmates at “hot spot” prisons to boosting in-state ventilator production and preparing for all-mail voting. | Carroll Foy, who held a virtual town hall May 5 with front-line workers, has peppered Northam on Twitter on a wide range of coronavirus issues — from mandating masks on public transit and releasing certain inmates at “hot spot” prisons to boosting in-state ventilator production and preparing for all-mail voting. |
| Chase, who prides herself on Trumpian swagger, has been the most aggressive against Northam, accusing him of causing a “government-induced recession.” The protests she has organized have earned her coverage on Richmond TV news and formed the basis of fundraising appeals. | Chase, who prides herself on Trumpian swagger, has been the most aggressive against Northam, accusing him of causing a “government-induced recession.” The protests she has organized have earned her coverage on Richmond TV news and formed the basis of fundraising appeals. |
| “We must continue to rally and keep up the fight!” she wrote on Facebook last week. “In order for us to continue to do this we need your financial support!” | “We must continue to rally and keep up the fight!” she wrote on Facebook last week. “In order for us to continue to do this we need your financial support!” |
| Chase said she’s only making “soft pitches” for money these days. | Chase said she’s only making “soft pitches” for money these days. |
| “We know that we have to raise money to run a viable campaign, but we really do want to be sensitive,” she said. “These are difficult times for so many families.” | “We know that we have to raise money to run a viable campaign, but we really do want to be sensitive,” she said. “These are difficult times for so many families.” |
| The restrictions could have some upside for candidates, said Martin, the veteran GOP campaign hand. It spares them grueling travel, and the time saved might allow for more leisurely get-togethers online. | The restrictions could have some upside for candidates, said Martin, the veteran GOP campaign hand. It spares them grueling travel, and the time saved might allow for more leisurely get-togethers online. |
| “Whereas a party volunteer may get a grip-and-grin at a chicken dinner, now they get maybe 30 minutes one-on-one time via Zoom,” Martin said. “It may be remote, but their interaction may be more in-depth. And it’s not as though the candidate can say, ‘Hey, I gotta go.’ … Now you’ve got nowhere to go.” | “Whereas a party volunteer may get a grip-and-grin at a chicken dinner, now they get maybe 30 minutes one-on-one time via Zoom,” Martin said. “It may be remote, but their interaction may be more in-depth. And it’s not as though the candidate can say, ‘Hey, I gotta go.’ … Now you’ve got nowhere to go.” |
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