Political analyst says Harris, Democrats ‘clearly the favorites’ in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — With the Democratic National Convention over and Election Day approaching, the race for the White House is now entering its most critical phase — but a political analyst from the University of Virginia does not believe the race will be a tight one in the Commonwealth.

“Kamala Harris and the Democrats are clearly the favorites in Virginia,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.

According to Sabato, despite a new poll released on Tuesday by Roanoke College showing that Vice President Kamala Harris leads former President Donald Trump by just 3 points, Virginia is not a swing state.

“Every poll is outdated about 24 hours after it’s released because the poll was taken beginning a week prior to its release date,” Sabato said. “Look at how much happens in a day.”

He said it would be foolish for either candidate to spend a lot of time or money in Virginia ahead of Election Day.

“The Republicans would love to make the Democrats unsettled about Virginia, causing them to spend millions of dollars here,” Sabato said.

He said the most interesting thing to watch in Virginia is whether or not Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin campaigns vigorously for Trump.

“If he decides to take on the mantle of campaigning for Trump, then he will be held partially accountable for what happens in Virginia,” said Sabato. “And I don’t think he would want that, because the odds are, Trump is not going to win Virginia.”

Early voting in Virginia begins in less than a month on Sept. 20.

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