Virginia No Longer a Stepping Stone to the White House

“As the race for governor heats up in Virginia, Beltway insiders again will seek to turn it into a warm-up for a bid for the White House. But that’s almost certainly not going to happen,” writes Ryan Teague Beckwith.

“Although Virginia is sometimes called the “mother of presidents” because eight were born there (including Washington and Jefferson), the state’s reputation as a presidential proving ground is outdated. And its gubernatorial races, which happen in otherwise slow years, are vastly overrated by Beltway pundits.”

“The past eight governors of Virginia have been discussed as potential presidential or vice presidential prospects at various points in their careers, yet none have ended up mounting a credible campaign.”