Tuesday marks the end of what has been a highly contentious campaign for Virginia governor, between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin.
And on Monday, the pair 鈥� who, according to recent polls, are in a dead heat 鈥� made their last pitch to Virginia voters during interviews with 小萝莉影视.
Youngkin, who has spent much of his career working for a private-equity firm, spoke with Shawn Anderson and Hillary Howard as he wrapped up a 10-day bus tour around the state.
The major focus of the race has been critical race theory, an academic framework that examines how systemic racism is ingrained in the history of America. It鈥檚 not taught in Virginia public schools. But over the last few months, it has fueled conservative anger nationwide.
When asked to respond to Democrats鈥� accusations that Republicans have distorted the issue to stoke racial anger and resentment, Youngkin accused McAuliffe of making up things.
鈥淭he reality is that the beginnings of critical race theory in Virginia School started during his administration,鈥� he said.
Youngkin also denied that he wanted books like Toni Morrison鈥檚 鈥淏eloved鈥� banned, even though the Nobel-winner鈥檚 book is involved in .
That ad that would have forced schools to warn parents if their children are assigned books with explicit content. He .
Youngkin argued it shows the former governor is out-of-touch. 鈥淭his is why we see such a disconnect between where Terry McAuliffe is and where, candidly, the vast majority of Virginia parents are, which is all they want is to have a say in their child’s education.鈥�
Another recurring theme of the race has been the shadow of , who was scheduled to take part in a telerally for Youngkin Monday night.
When asked how close he is to Trump, Youngkin replied 鈥渨ell, not terribly.鈥�
Earlier on 小萝莉影视, though, McAuliffe pointed out that Youngkin has received multiple endorsements from the former president.
鈥淚 am happy to remind voters about Donald Trump,鈥� the Democrat said. 鈥淗e was the most divisive president we’ve ever had 鈥� his racist dog whistles and tweets and misogynist tweets every day. We’re better than that. As a nation, we are better than this.鈥�
McAuliffe also defended his education record when he first served as governor from 2014 to 2018, and emphasized his plans to raise teacher pay above the national average and getting at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds into prekindergarten.
鈥淗is education plan is banning books,鈥� McAuliffe said of Youngkin, 鈥渁nd, No. 2, talk about critical race theory. 鈥� It’s racist dog whistles. It’s getting parents against parents, parents against teachers, using our children as political pawns.鈥�
McAuliffe also challenged the narrative that the race has gotten tighter in recent weeks.
鈥淭his race has always been the same,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his race has not moved really in the last four or five months. It’s always been a 1-to-3-point race.鈥�
Turnout, he said, is key. 鈥淲e’re not persuading anybody,鈥� he said of himself and his opponent.
鈥淚t’s about getting your voters to the polls.鈥�
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