Part 9/18:
This move reflected a broader pattern: Democrats increasingly engaged in angry, performative politics rather than pragmatic strategy. During a period of internal chaos, moderate candidates like Abigail Spanberger faced calamitous situations rooted in the party’s internal contradictions and moral posturing. For instance, her campaign was dragged down by the controversy surrounding her running mate’s past threatening messages, which she failed to disavow promptly. Her frustration centered on being forced to respond to scandals rather than focusing on policy—revealing a party more committed to base signaling than leadership.