Reuters: Republican candidate for Virginia governor walks fine line on election fraud

Reuters: Republican candidate for Virginia governor walks fine line on election fraud

"He is clearly trying to have his cake and eat it too," said Sylvia Albert, director of voting and elections at Common Cause, a voting rights watchdog group.

CHESTERFIELD, Va., Oct 12 (Reuters) – At a recent Virginia rally, Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin talked up his plans to boost the economy and fight crime, and said nothing at all about false claims that Democratic President Joe Biden’s election victory was the result of fraud.

But some in the crowd heard the message all the same, moments before the former private equity executive’s speech, when Republican state Senator Amanda Chase told Youngkin supporters – offstage and without a microphone – that she was on guard against a repeat of election cheating. …

The dynamic illustrated the fine line Youngkin walks on the campaign trail. He is trying to avoid turning off die-hard supporters of Trump, a Republican, whose allegations the election was stolen from him were rejected by dozens of courts, state election officials and members of his own administration.

But Youngkin also does not want to alienate the independent voters who disapprove of Trump and his role in sparking the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol intended to overturn his election defeat. …

Some experts worry Youngkin’s messaging – and his campaign’s use of Chase – could undermine people’s faith in U.S. elections.

“He is clearly trying to have his cake and eat it too,” said Sylvia Albert, director of voting and elections at Common Cause, a voting rights watchdog group.