Good for Rand.
In response to some of the comments here:
1. KC is very conservative but to date has run what I think has been a lackluster campaign. He has allowed himself to be defined by McAwful.
2. I really don’t like this idea that any gop candidate, even KC, is somehow “owed” votes. He isn’t. Robert Sarvis has every right to run. If the gop/’rat candidates don’t get as many votes as a result then tough cookies.
3. Robert Sarvis has run a very good campaign. That’s why he is getting an unusual number of votes. And there is certainly a lot of gop/’rat campaign fatigue here. I don’t think that Robert Sarvis is necessarily drawing from KC’s numbers any more than McAwful’s. There are a lot of people who self-identify as libertarian in VA and here we have a well-spoken, talented candidate who is running a very effective campaign for it’s size.
4. Both KC and McAwful have spent an incredible amount on this campaign. I read that it was over $40 mil between the two of them. For a state of 8 mil people, of which maybe 1-2 mil will show up to vote.
5. Finally, the thing that I find most disappointing about this race is how often KC has in effect run away from himself. An example of this was when Ted Cruz came to campaign for him. KC wouldn’t even appear on stage with Ted Cruz. Even though Ted Cruz was taking time out of his day to campaign for him and endorse him. KC has a really good record as a conservative yet it seems that rather than embrace that, he has tried to distance himself from it. Which would lead anyone to question really how sincere he is about his conservative views.
Upshot for me is that I’ll be voting for E.W. Jackson. A fine and unapologetic conservative for LT Governor. I’ll also be voting for Mark Obenshain for AG. Another fine and unapologetic conservative. While I happen to be there I might or might not vote for Ken Cuccinelli.
you don’t know you will vote for Ken!!! Why is it better to see this Clinton hack gain anther vote and maybe won because you did not want to vote for Ken?
WOW
The principled vote must also account for likely consequences.
Regarding your first point, the Left is proficient at deceit, and I wouldn’t say conservatives grant permission to be defined. Conservatives don’t necessarily campaign as well as they govern, so keep that in mind when applying canon.