But Steve Farnsworth, director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington, said the shift in the campaign’s focus shows that its previous strategy wasn’t working. “It’s tough for Republicans to run on the economy right now … hence the pivot,” Farnsworth said. “Candidates who are polling well don’t need to develop new strategies.”
“So much has changed in Virginia politics over the last 25 years, and those changes all work against events like Buena Vista,” said Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. “For the dwindling Richmond press corps, it’s a very expensive proposition to make the trek. For the candidates, it’s not clear there’s a lot of value in going if there’s no coverage,” said Farnsworth who, before his 32 years as a professor, reported for the Kansas City Star.
“I think the big uncertainty here is what level of threat she faces,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “We don’t know what the current level of threat is that she is facing, but we do know she faced a great deal of threats when she was a candidate for president last year.”
While the economy is traditionally a GOP focus, continued concerns over high prices and the impact of federal job cuts is forcing a shift, according to political analyst and University of Mary Washington professor Stephen Farnsworth. “What you see with the Republican message right now is a very powerful pivot away from the economy, focusing instead on the cultural issues that worked well for Glenn Youngkin four years ago,” Farnsworth said.
Dr. Stephen Farnsworth is a professor and director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington. Dr. Farnsworth reacts to Earle-Sears closing the gap and how each candidate should move forward with less than 100 days in the race. “Part of this has to do with Republican voters coming back home to the party,” said Stephen Farnsworth.
“I think this is clearly an effort to dominate the political environment,” said Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “And the Trump administration is planning to send troops to other cities as well.”
