Shaun Kenney

If you missed the Virginia Bar Association Debate, don’t worry — it was an exhibition in precisely why Ralph Northam is avoiding debates, courtesy of Ed Gillespie’s sharp right jabs on the economy and small business growth:

“Let me say it again: 20 cents of every dollar is a direct federal dollar on our economy from the federal government.  In Hampton Roads, it’s a lot more than that… we can’t just count on Washington D.C. to solve our problems for us.  I have policies to get Virginia growing again, to address the challenges we face, a 10% across the board cut in our individual income tax rates.  That would create more than 53,000 full-time, private sector, good paying jobs in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  That’s a 25% increase over what we project right now.  We need those jobs, we need those opportunities, we need to — in Virginia — enact policies to change the stagnation that we have suffered under during the lieutenant governor’s time in office.”

— Republican gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespie
Virginia Bar Association Debate
22 July 2017

For other highlights during the Gillespie/Northam VBA debate, see below.

No question that Gillespie carried the debate handily.  Northam pivoted to a series of divisive social issues and reckless economic policies, while Gillespie deftly handled questions about President Trump while focusing relentlessly on what he intends to achieve as governor: small business growth and the economy being front and center.