If you’ve been watching Terry McAuliffe’s campaign for Virginia governor, you’d be forgiven for thinking he was running against Donald Trump — even CNN’s Dana Bash made a drinking game out of an interview with McAuliffe, saying, “I’m glad I have two cups here so I can keep drinking when you mention Donald Trump’s name.”
Here’s a compilation of all the times McAuliffe name-dropped Trump in just one TV appearance:
Terry McAuliffe just set a new record for the most mentions of Trump in a single interview. Count 'em!
We need a governor focused on helping Virginia families build a brighter future — not a career politician focused on the past. pic.twitter.com/XzU7nZFopk
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) October 11, 2021
CNN is reporting Saturday that, three days before the election, McAuliffe has switched gears and said that the election is “not about Trump.”
Never a good sign when a few days before the election you back off your main line of attack against your opponent, presumably because you realize it hasn’t been working https://t.co/9TmM8RsvJD
— Rich Lowry (@RichLowry) October 30, 2021
CNN reports:
Terry McAuliffe claimed on Saturday that the Virginia gubernatorial election is “not about Trump” — even though the Democratic gubernatorial candidate has invoked the former Republican President perhaps more than any other political figure.
The comment, which belies the fact that tying Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin to Trump has been a central political strategy for McAuliffe since the start of the campaign, represents a significant shift for the Democrat just days before Tuesday’s election and on the final day of early voting in Virginia.
That’s quite a 180. Even Speaker Nancy Pelosi was in on it, warning that a McAuliffe loss would “essentially steamroll a path for Trump’s comeback.”
Good reporting from @merica on McAuliffe’s screeching too-little-too-late “actually maybe I should talk about something other than Trump” shift 3 days before Election Day. https://t.co/aiyF6QzVSG
McAuliffe campaign IRL ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/jv3eImlwAA
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) October 30, 2021
Yes… @TerryMcAuliffe’s campaign isn’t about Donald Trump.. pic.twitter.com/Vw4B4bWVkR
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) October 30, 2021
Yup. No Donald Trump talk here… LOL https://t.co/MsA7qMxN4X
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) October 30, 2021
“Let me get back to my other talking point…the state owns your children”
— Keith Maniac, from Guatemala (@from_maniac) October 30, 2021
Education is now voters’ top priority — after McAuliffe said parents should have a say in what their children are being taught.
He wants to focus on his central issue: parents have no right to decide how their schools operate
— SoothingDave (@SoothingDave) October 30, 2021
Dude is not very good at this
— Peej (@PeteinWI) October 30, 2021
Haha, their strategy FAILED BIGLY.
— John Va (@RobertJOtero) October 30, 2021
Funny that Donald Trump isn’t among Virginia voters’ top priorities.
Related:
DRINK! CNN’s Dana Bash’s REACTION when Terry McAuliffe brings up Trump AGAIN during his #VAGov interview is actually HILARIOUS (watch) https://t.co/KJTOA96thp
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 11, 2021
