Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie’s decision to challenge Democratic Sen. Mark Warner in Virginia triggered a lot of head-scratching in political circles, because Gillespie is widely seen as a very savvy guy, and Warner is perceived to be in a very strong position. “Why is Ed doing this?” is a question heard frequently of late.
The truth is, Gillespie’s bid is not as crazy as it seems. … Virginia is now a legitimate purple/swing state—no longer a red/Republican state, but nowhere near a clear-cut blue/Democratic state. CONT.
Charlie Cook