OPINION:
I find the way political campaigns are run and the way the media cover them both amusing and frightening. Once you cut away the verbiage, it’s clear campaigns’ success hinges on the amount of money they can raise.
More important than “How much?” should be “Where does the money come from?” and “What will the candidate do if elected?” Virginia’s gubernatorial election is a case in point. According to some news outlets here, both major political parties have raised more money than ever before. Abigail Spanberger raised over $10 million in the second quarter of this year alone.
However, most of that money has come from out-of-state, big-money sources, such as Silicon Valley companies and large banking interests. That raises the question, “If elected, who will Ms. Spanberger serve?” Will it be the everyday citizens living in Virginia, or will it be the special interests that will own her if she becomes governor? Also, how will she use her power?
Ms. Spanberger is currently involved in a defamation lawsuit stemming from a 2022 Democratic Party of Virginia press release about Jan. 6. Although she claims she was not involved in the issuing of the release, it raises some questions. Did she have a hand in writing it? Did she know about it?
What are the lengths to which she will go to win? Will she control her staff? All these are questions each Virginia voter should research before voting. But that shouldn’t be all the research voters do. They also need to know about Ms. Spanberger’s record on energy, her position on parents and the education system, taxes and a whole host of other issues that affect Virginians. Be careful what you vote for.
DAVID WILLIAMS
Fairfax, Virginia
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