Republicans hold an enormous edge in enthusiasm that could make the difference in the upcoming Virginia governor’s race, according to both public and private polling. What’s most notable in Virginia is that it’s Glenn Youngkin — a candidate who accepted Trump’s endorsement but has held the former president at arm’s length during the campaign — who stands to benefit from the electrified GOP base, which is instead animated by President Joe Biden’s sagging ratings and Democrats’ total control in Washington and Richmond.

“The disheartened-ness that I saw following the November election and leading into the Georgia Senate runoff — people saying, ‘What’s the point in voting?’ — that’s shaken off,” said Wren Williams, a GOP nominee for a state legislative seat in southwest Virginia, who defeated a seven-term Republican incumbent for the nomination for not being sufficiently pro-Trump…

Even that nationalization strategy has had drawbacks for Democrats, though, according to Williams: “McAuliffe’s campaign has advertised the fact that Youngkin is Trump, endorsed by Trump, a wolf in Trump’s clothing, and ironically, that’s a double-edged sword because he’s motivating the [GOP] base,” Williams said.

Nick Everhart, a Republican consultant who worked on the Georgia Senate runoffs and is now involved in Virginia legislative races, echoed that there was “real concern after Georgia that there was going to be lingering anger about the election with base Republicans, the concern being Trump’s vocal frustration was sending mixed messaging that would depress turnout.” Instead, Everhart said, there “doesn’t seem to be any long-term hangover post-Georgia, which is incredibly encouraging heading into the midterms.”