Oh really? What happened in Virginia?
I think the SD election was a straight up 2 person race.
The Dem strategy that worked in Va (and a good number of other locations) includes funding a libertarian candidate to bleed R votes and win with a Clintonian plurality.
The Dems understand the entitlement army won’t vote for anybody but a gravy dispenser. Where the non-Dem votes aren’t nearly as united in purpose.
The GOP hung Cuccinelli out to dry. I don't think they would have acted any differently than if they had been secretly working for a McAuliffe victory.