Is Joe Biden Actually In Trouble In Virginia?

Joe Biden’s presidential campaign isn’t taking any chances in Virginia. The campaign has opened six field offices in the state, with more on the way. It’s organized nearly a dozen grassroots events engaging Black voters and is doing the same now for older voters , using the allure of ice cream and pickleball.

A recent Fox News poll suggested, however, that Biden and Donald Trump are tied in Virginia five months out from the election — a worrisome sign for Biden in a state no Democratic presidential candidate has lost since 2004. Trump’s campaign has even bragged it sees an opportunity to expand its electoral map into blue territory including Virginia.

One Democratic strategist, who requested anonymity to speak candidly, admitted “things are tight” in Virginia, while still dismissing a Trump win there as highly unlikely.

But other Virginia Democrats and allies of the Biden campaign are downplaying the idea that Biden might be at all vulnerable in a state he won by over 10 percentage points four years ago. If Biden is actually in trouble in Virginia come November, it would mean he has much bigger problems everywhere else.

“The Biden team is very confident, but it’s also clear they’re not taking anything for granted. That’s why they have a strong operation on the ground. That’s why they’re building out staff,” said Christina Freundlich, a Democratic strategist who’s worked on a number of Virginia campaigns.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who is up for reelection this year and benefits from having a strong Biden campaign presence in the state, said he isn’t worried about Biden losing.

“I’ve seen other polls that say it’s not so close,” Kaine told HuffPost. “Maybe it’s not a 10-point race like it was four years ago, but