I do not disagree with any of your well defined points. And...yes, you are correct, if Corey Stewart had just gotten a few more votes he would have been the GOP Governor candidate!!! Gillespie is a hopeless RINO, but I also know that...in this fight for our country, he who holds the title is not as important as the victory of the state!!!
The difference centers on voter turnout...and the GOP defeated Jon Ossoff in Georgia by awakening the sleeping Republicans, Conservatives & Independents who were going to stay home and, not vote on election day. If you canvass the voting results in both Fulton & Cobb counties in Georgia, you will be stunned by victory margins of Karen Handel in those two counties.....11,000 (Cobb) in one and, 21,000 (Fulton) in the other!!!
Thus....while I agree with you...I still think a vigorous get out the vote effort in both NJ & VA is worth the effort.
The Dems outnumber the Reps in NJ and VA. A large turnout will help the Dems. The Reps will need a higher turnout percentage than the Dems. Having RINOs heading the ticket will depress the turnout.