richmond va. speak folksy physician run virginia governor democrat ralph northam vow recent campaign ad fight donald trump cut education fund environmental protections health care access northam say work republican president state interest balance act put northam moderate lieutenant governor low-key campaign style front line party search strategy exploit trump unpopularity politically divide state virginia run ed gillespie former chairman republican national committee nov. general election competitive southern state see bellwether next year midterm elections voters decide whether republicans continue control u.s. congress majority state governments denounce trump narcissistic maniac primary campaign northam since dial back vitriol emphasis workforce education policy matter heed criticism democrats lose white house voters hear party stand northam strategy talk trump talk trump say stephen farnsworth professor political science university mary washington note northam seek broaden appeal uncommitted voters poll show northam narrowly ahead contest democrats consider must-win virginia one 15 governors mansions still hold party current governor run re-election due term limit former democratic president barack obama return campaign trail week first time since leave office stump candidates virginia new jersey two state gubernatorial elections year without name trump call voters send message back candidates like northam recent poll show nearly one three likely virginia voters factor trump decision governor race accord survey wason center public policy christopher newport university northam supporters overwhelmingly disapprove trump distain republican president niel manson 72-year-old retire engineer live near capital city richmond become democrat nine months ago yet former independent call northam wise make campaign merely react trump benefit get discussion trump change mind every 24 hours manson say northam campaign say intentionally focus policies talk trump seek draw parallel gillespie northam start another recent ad highlight differences gubernatorial candidates climate change ed go right along donald trump try roll back clean air water protections democrat say picnic table waterfront park strategy work connect president republican candidate always lock step say jennifer duffy analyze gubernatorial race non-partisan cook political report say campaign gear next year midterms learn virginia whether message sway independents motivate democrats turn great number typical non-presidential years first real election see arguments trump really impact republican candidates duffy say gillespie campaign decline comment trump impact race president endorse gillespie campaign vice president mike pence headline recent rally candidate southwest virginia heavily republican coal country democratic voter erin siraguse 34 say base support northam issue efforts address affordable house teachers around home fairfax county northern virginia admire northam handle president shadow year competitive state race lieutenant governor northam do wonderful job talk trump without mention trump say search trump card democrats watch virginia governor 's race