“These endorsements are important because they give other Republicans [who are] unhappy with Trump, the opportunity to vote for McAuliffe,” said Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “It’s not a game-changer or anything, as nearly every Republican will vote the Republican line and nearly every Democrat will do the same. But at the margins, it is better to have cross-partisan support than not.”
