Government Shutdown Affects Virginia Governor's Race

04:14

October 08, 2013

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli, left, gestures during a debate with Democratic challenger Terry McCauliffe, right, during the Virginia Bar Association convention debate at the Homestead in Hot Springs, Va. Saturday, July 20, 2013. (Steve Helber/AP)

The government shutdown is having an unexpected affect on Virginia's governor's race.

The Democrat in the race is businessman and former Democratic Party chairman Terry McAuliffe. Republicans were positioning him as a Washington insider.

But then came the shut down. About 175,000 Virginians are furloughed federal employees.

The Republican candidate is Tea Party-aligned Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. At a Family Foundation of Virginia fundraiser this past weekend, he avoided taking pictures with Tea Party favorite Ted Cruz, and left before Cruz spoke.

Jeff Schapiro, political reporter and columnist for the Richmond Times Dispatch, tells Here & Now's Robin Young that while the government shutdown is creating problems for Cuccinelli, he has a bigger stumbling block.

"The big problem that Mr. Cuccinelli has is that polling shows that people just don't like him. His negatives are at about 51 percent percent, depending on the poll," Schapiro said.

Guest

Jeff Schapiro, political reporter and columnist for the Richmond Times Dispatch. He tweets @RTDSchapiro.

This segment aired on October 8, 2013.