Virginia GOP grows cautiously optimistic in governor’s race

VirginiaRepublicansaregrowingcautiouslyoptimisticaboutLieutenantGov.WinsomeEarle-Sears(R)chancesinNovember’sgubernatorialraceafternewpollingreleasedthisweekshowedtheRepublicannomineeclosingthegap. ARoanokeCollegepollreleasedearlierthisweekshowedformerRep.AbigailSpanberger(D-Va.)leadingEarle-Sears46percentto39percentamonglikelyVirginiavoters.Another14percentofvoterssaidtheywereundecided,while1percentsaidtheywouldvoteforsomeoneelse.ThepollmarkedashiftfromthelatestRoanokeCollegepollreleasedinMay,whichshowedSpanbergerleading43percentto26percent. Thesamepollalsoshowedtightracesinthelieutenantgovernorandtheattorneygeneralrace. VirginiastateSen.GhazalaHashmi(D)leadsRepublicanJohnReidintheracetoreplaceEarle-Sears38percentto35percent,whileformerDel.JayJones(D)leadsincumbentAttorneyGeneralJasonMiyares(R)41percentto38percent. Republicanssayalleviatedconcernsaboutthemanagementofthelieutenantgovernor’scampaign,coupledwithafocusoncultu