- Virginia is experiencing record levels of early voting during its current governor’s race.
- An advertisement funded by the American Principles Project (APP) has drawn controversy by linking Abigail Spanberger to a Virginia sex offender case.
- The advertisement is seen as echoing the infamous “Willie Horton” strategy, which is a racially charged attack ad from the 1988 presidential campaign.
- The use of such tactics highlights the intense and divisive nature of the current political campaign in Virginia.
- The issue underscored by the ad involves criminal justice and its role in electoral strategies, raising concerns about fear-based political messaging.
- The resurgence of such campaign strategies may affect voter perceptions and influence the high levels of voter turnout seen in this election cycle.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/virginia-governors-race-ad-stirs-willie-horton-echoes-early-voting-hits-record-pace)