On Tuesday, ABC’s Good Morning America suddenly realized there was a governor’s race in Virginia and actually devoted a full report to covering Election Day in the commonwealth. However, out of that two-minute segment, only 13 seconds of air time was given to a disgraceful left-wing ad that painted supporters of Republican Ed Gillespie as racists who hunt down minority children in pick-up trucks.
In addition to the brevity of the ad coverage, correspondent Tom Llamas claimed “both sides” were to blame for the vicious tone of the campaign: “And with this race so close, both sides have used scare tactics in their political ads.” He described how: “The Latino Victory Fund, a liberal PAC, had to take down this ad depicting minority children running from a Gillespie supporter in a pickup truck with a Confederate flag.”
Llamas didn’t bother to mention documentation showing the Latino Victory Fund coordinated with Democrat Ralph Northam’s campaign.
The reporter hastened to add: “Gillespie fired back with his own ad, criticizing Northam for supporting restoring voting rights to felons, including a suspected child pornographer.” The taped portion of the report ended with a soundbite of Northam condemning Gillespie: “I’m a pediatrician, and for Ed Gillespie to say I would tolerate anyone hurting a child is despicable.”
Llamas simply concluded: “So clearly this race has gotten very heated.”
The report also began by sympathetically portraying Northam as a victim of Twitter attacks from President Trump:
The ads in this race have gotten very aggressive, as have the President’s tweets. Now, the President tweeted this morning from Seoul about the Democrat in this race, who we should mention is a veteran. Here’s what the President tweeted, let’s put it up there on the screen. He tweeted, “Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia. He’s weak on crime, weak on our GREAT VETS, Anti-Second Amendment.”
Tuesday’s report was ABC’s first mention of the Latino Victory ad. Even the network’s political Sunday show, This Week, which did discuss the Virginia race, steered clear of the Democratic scandal.
Meanwhile, on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, moderator Chuck Todd did press Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez about the incendiary ad: “Aren't you stereotyping? Are all pickup trucks – I drive a pickup truck. I mean, are all pickup truck drivers racist? That’s what the ad – do you understand why some people think the ad implies that?”
Astonishingly, CBS’s Face the Nation completely ignored the ad, despite host John Dickerson starting off the show by interviewing Virginia Senator Mark Warner. Even when the Virginia race did come up later in the panel discussion, the focus was on accusing Gillespie of practicing “white identity politics.”
On Tuesday, NBC’s Today and CBS This Morning only offered news briefs on the gubernatorial elections taking place in Virginia and New Jersey. Despite only offering 32 seconds of coverage on Today, co-host Matt Lauer still managed to squeeze in liberal bias:
It is Election Day and eyes are on a couple of key gubernatorial races. In Virginia, polls show Republican Ed Gillespie is closing the gap on Democrat Ralph Northam. Gillespie has kept President Trump at arm’s length, but he does share similar views on some controversial issues, such as Confederate monuments and the NFL protests. In New Jersey, Democrat Phil Murphy holds double-digit lead over Republican Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno. Taxes and immigration have been key issues in that campaign.
On This Morning, co-host Charlie Rose was more straightforward in a 28-second report:
Voters are choosing new governor’s this morning in New Jersey and Virginia. The races could provide clues about the political mood across the country. Republican Governor Chris Christie’s second term is coming to an end in New Jersey. Republican Lieutenant Governor Kim Podagno is the underdog in the race against Democrat Phil Murphy. The Virginia race will test President Trump’s clout. He is backing Republican Ed Gillespie. Gillespie’s in a close race with Democratic Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam.
The biased segment on GMA was brought to viewers by Google, JCPenney, and StateFarm.
Here is a full transcript of the November 7 report:
7:13 AM ET
ROBIN ROBERTS: And, George, as we know, it is Election Day. Some big races across the country. The highest stakes in Virginia, where both President Trump and former President Obama have weighed in on the battle for governor. Our Chief National Correspondent Tom Llamas is there at a polling station in Fairfax. And, Tom, this race, as we know, is tight and some Democrats are concerned they could lose the state that Hillary Clinton won.
TOM LLAMAS: Robin, that’s exactly right. As you mentioned, the voting is now underway here in Virginia and so many are watching this race because many people believe this is going to be a bellwether for the midterm elections next year. The ads in this race have gotten very aggressive, as have the President’s tweets.Now, the President tweeted this morning from Seoul about the Democrat in this race, who we should mention is a veteran. Here’s what the President tweeted, let’s put it up there on the screen. He tweeted, “Ralph Northam will allow crime to be rampant in Virginia. He’s weak on crime, weak on our GREAT VETS, Anti-Second Amendment.”
So why does President Trump care so much about this governor’s race here in Virginia? It’s because, as you mentioned, he lost this state, it’s the only southern state he lost. And he knows if the Republicans win today, it’ll be a great sign.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: High-Stakes Election in Key Swing State; Trump & Obama Weigh in on Virginia Governor’s Race]
In Virginia, the tight race for governor pitting Democrat and current Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam against Republican Ed Gillespie. Gillespie, who ran the Republican National Committee and has promised to keep up Confederate monuments, chose not to appear with President Trump on the campaign trail. Something he didn’t want to discuss overnight.
[TO GILLESPIE]: Is there a reason why you didn’t campaign with the President?
And with this race so close, both sides have used scare tactics in their political ads.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD [LATINO VICTORY AD]: Run, run, run.
LLAMAS: The Latino Victory Fund, a liberal PAC, had to take down this ad depicting minority children running from a Gillespie supporter in a pickup truck with a Confederate flag. Gillespie fired back with his own ad, criticizing Northam for supporting restoring voting rights to felons, including a suspected child pornographer.
RALPH NORTHAM: I’m a pediatrician, and for Ed Gillespie to say I would tolerate anyone hurting a child is despicable.
LLAMAS: So clearly this race has gotten very heated. The last time a Republican won statewide office here in Virginia was 2009. So a win for Ed Gillespie, the Republican, would be huge for the GOP. Guys, back to you.
ROBIN ROBERTS: Many will be watching. Alright, thank you.
