Last night there was a debate between Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates; former Democrat Rep. Abigail Spanberger and current Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears.
From what I have read and seen, Earle-Sears dominated the debate, including a number of times when she talked over Spanberger/demanded that Spanberger answer questions more directly. That aggressiveness may or may not work for her.
By contrast, however, Spanberger spent much of the debate looking like a deer in the headlights – most especially when the issues of biological boys using girls’ bathrooms/locker rooms and Attorney General candidate jay jones’ ugly texts and comments wishing – among other sick, disgusting comments – that he could shoot a Republican adversary to death, that the Republican’s children should die in their mother’s arms, and police officers should be killed.
Spanberger would not commit herself to supporting or not supporting boys in girls bathrooms/locker rooms, falling back on the “well, it’s up to the parents in each district” diversionary tactic – as if that absolved her of having to provide any position on the issue.
Spanberger pulled exactly the same thing when asked about jay jones. She ducked any personal opinion with the sanitized “well, I denounce what he said but it’s up to the voters”. The fact that she refused to say whether or not she supported his candidacy was, presumably, supposed to not be noticed by those voters.
Bottom line? Maybe it’s just me, but I thought Earle-Sears whomped Spanberger in this debate. Unlike Spanberger, she gave straight answers to most questions – even the contoversial abortion issue – while Spanberger deperately tried to run away from taking positions on key issues.
Want to see a few key parts of the debate that caused me to feel this way? Here they are. You decide for yourself.
