SMART – AT 1:08 P.M. ET:   While some pundits soared into ecstasy about the Democratic victory in Tuesday's gubernatorial election in Virginia, more sober minds saw something else at work –  a new Democratic understanding of who actually votes.

The governor-elect of Virginia, Ralph Northam, is anything but a typical, "modern" Democrat.  He's a moderate who admits he voted for George W. Bush twice.  He is a physician with a military record, and came out against sanctuary cities.  In the Democratic primary he defeated a leftist opponent who'd been endorsed by Bernie Sanders.  Democrats should get sober over last Tuesday's Virginia result.

The Dems are waking up to reality.  From ABC News: 

Exactly one year before the 2018 midterm elections, one of Democrats' key strategies to retake the House is coming into focus. In a wide range of districts around the country, Democrats are placing their bets on military veterans.

"There's no doubt that veterans have unique qualifications and experiences that give them important credibility with Democrats, independents and Republican voters alike," Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Tyler Law told ABC News.

Party officials acknowledge that when they were looking for strong recruits to replenish the Democratic party bench this year, their teams often sought candidates with military experience. But, they argue, veterans have also stepped up in droves and decided to run on their own since the presidential election last year.

The DCCC expects 30 or 40 of its candidates next year will be veterans, a major uptick from recent cycles.

COMMENT:  It's a good move if it's genuine.  But is it?  A very large segment of the Democratic Party is anti-defense, and is obsessed with identity politics – judging candidates by what ethnic group or gender they come from. 

Nominating veterans will work if the vets embrace traditional values and avoid the fringe left.  That may be difficult.  Remember that the Democratic Party used to be the national defense party, but its national-defense wing was crushed by new leftists, starting in the late sixties and early seventies. 

We'll see.

November 12, 2017