Middle Resolution Endorses Gillespie; RTD Lashes Out At Stewart Social Media

There are rumors that Corey Stewart (and those close to him) are privately counseling that he bow out of the Virginia gubernatorial race.  Those voices are apparently being matched by resources flowing towards putative GOP frontrunner Ed Gillespie.

To wit, Middle Resolution — an organization known for its strident conservatism and who openly supported Corey Stewart’s LG run in 2013 — has turned their back on Stewart and endorsed Gillespie.  From the press release:

“Ed has pledged to be a governor for ALL Virginians,” said Al Jackson. “He has put together a campaign staff that is capable of helping him win not only the nomination but to win the governor’s seat in the next election. We are super excited and pleased to endorse Ed Gillespie for governor of the great state of Virginia.”

Speaking about the endorsement, Gillespie said, “I’m humbled to have the support of the committed conservatives at The Middle Resolution. The Middle Resolution represents a wide-range of grassroots conservatives who are committed to policies based on free markets and free people. Like The Middle Resolution and its members, I recognize the importance of a government that protects individual rights, lowers taxes, and promotes accountability and transparency in government. As governor, I will promote our founding conservative principles and apply them each and every day as I serve all Virginians.”

To make matters worse, Alan Suderman with the Associated Press released an article today talking about how a shadow group affiliated with the Stewart campaign has been taking liberties with Facebook posts — altering the headlines of MSM articles in order to give the false appearance that Gillespie supports tearing down Confederate statues:

Critics complain the altered headlines are a new kind of “fake news” that can fool casual readers. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan was recently called out for a staff-altered newspaper headline including the words “road kill” about legislation he criticized. In North Carolina, a powerful GOP state senator drew fire for an altered newspaper headline stating Democratic Gov. Roy “Cooper flip flops on refugees.”

Now a group aligned with Virginia gubernatorial hopeful Corey Stewart, a firebrand conservative supportive of Trump, has weaponized a fake headline to attack rival Ed Gillespie, the GOP establishment’s pick for governor. At issue: Gillespie’s level of support for Virginia’s Confederate monuments.

One should note that in Maryland, there have been Virginia political operatives who have performed similar tactics that have found themselves parked in front of a circuit court justice…

Of course, Gillespie understands the Code of Virginia just like everyone else: Charlottesville is about to learn an expensive lesson in fifth-grade English, where state law prevents localities from removing war monuments.

What the Stewart campaign is literally hanging their interpretation of Gillespie’s position is on two counts: (1) that Gillespie made a quip that Charlottesville is free to burn taxpayer dollars as it sees fit; and (2) that a Danville judge said that state law only applied to monuments built after 1990… which of course, hasn’t been even remotely tested and would be struck down by the Virginia Supreme Court if it were — as the law is crystal clear to 99 out of 100 lawyers… and that lone gunman is just being a contrarian for his own sake.

Either way, Stewart’s campaign is literally hanging on by a thread.  Bereft of cash, leaning too hard on Stewart’s local re-election warchest, abandoning what could have been a strong case for Richmond’s broken relationship with her localities.

Instead, Virginians have been treated to some truly wild haymakers including the sort of “fake news” that would tickle even the conscience of a Macedonian social media goons.

Stewart seems to think that gutterball and politics are one in the same.  Even in the era of Donald Trump, folks still want to know how you intend to govern… not just campaign.  National issues and national narratives in a distant capital are one thing.  Education, transportation, and job growth back home are quite another.

Meanwhile, Gillespie’s polling lead is allowing him to expand his gaze beyond the primary and into the general election — not a bad place for the GOP to be as the Democrats bleed themselves dry in a Perriello vs. Northam civil war.

Either way, Stewart’s chances are effectively napalmed at this rate.  The writing is on the wall… and it is only a matter of time or the hope of a narrative shift that saves Stewart’s bid at this rate.

If the rumors are indeed true that Stewart’s inner circle is starting to advise caution and perhaps a face-saving exit, this would be honest counsel indeed.  Whether Stewart is willing to consider such honesty, or would rather hang on to an expensive and consultant driven bitter end (quite lucrative for the consultants, of course), is another matter altogether.