Former Democratic Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder, the state’s only black governor, slammed Vice President Kamala Harris and current Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe for campaigning directly in the state’s churches.
It was reported earlier this month that, between Oct. 17 and Nov. 2, a video of Harris endorsing McAuliffe will play during Sunday morning church services in more than 300 black churches across the state.
“I believe that my friend Terry McAuliffe is the leader Virginia needs at this moment,” Harris says in the video. “Terry McAuliffe has a long track record of getting things done for the people of Virginia.”
The ad is a clear violation of Internal Revenue Service rules, specifically the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations from engaging in any political campaign activity, according to ethics and legal experts.
Wilder agreed: “Well, it’s very good for her to do that, causing these churches to lose their tax-exempt status,” he said, according to the Washington Examiner. “If this is legal, then it’s surprising to me.”
Wilder also questioned whether McAuliffe will be able to win the election because he has failed to attract enough black support.
“What reasons do they have to turn out?” he said.
The race between McAuliffe and his Republican opponent, Glenn Youngkin, is now a dead heat, according ot several polls. One survey even found Youngkin leading with 48.4% of the vote while McAuliffe pulled in 47.5%.
