Politicos Seek Data Clues for 2016 from Virginia Election
Outside of some local races, it may seem like little is happening on the political campaign landscape. Yet across the country and more so across the beltway, politicos are eyeing the Virginia race for governor. The reason: to find out whether the data-centric approach that helped President Obama’s campaign in 2012 can work for smaller election campaigns.
Not only is Virginia in the backyard of Washington, D.C., where campaign operatives swarm, it is a key presidential election swing state. And it just so happens that its gubernatorial election, between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli, is shaping up to be a close one.
A recent RealClearPolitics poll average showed Mr. McAuliffe ahead by 3.5 points. So, the election could help parties, advocacy groups and future campaigns envision what the 2016 presidential race might look like on a statewide level. President Obama won Virginia in 2012 by a margin of around three points.
