Incumbent Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) is currently characterized by Beltway observers as a relatively safe bet to win his race against his GOP opponent, Ed Gillespie — but the question isn’t whether this race will get close, the question is when Warner and his team will wake up to the possibility he can lose. With Warner topping out at about 46%-47% max in the ballot against Gillespie — and he and his campaign giving off a sluggish vibe — this is my bet for Senate race upset of the cycle.
As Warner has yet to be very active on the campaign trail, as of late he finds himself sucked into the state Obamacare debate in Richmond, where Governor McAuliffe has made Medicaid expansion his top legislative priority.
So not only is Warner saddled with supporting Obamacare at the federal level, he’s now involved in the state Medicaid expansion imbroglio — which will serve only to hinder his ability to advance the ostensible Warner brand attributes of moderation and bipartisanship.
Warner and apparatus are showing signs of rust, and while not yet noticeable in the manner and scope worthy of being reported upon, it soon will.
Gordon Hensley