David Zuckerman cleared the first big hurdle Tuesday in his bid to become Vermont鈥檚 next governor. But now he faces a much taller task in the general election: He has to convince voters to oust a Republican incumbent who鈥檚 won high marks for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, after the Associated Press called Vermont鈥檚 for Zuckerman, the candidate and his campaign team celebrated the months of hard work they put into the win.
It didn鈥檛 take long, however, for Zuckerman to turn his attention to the next phase of his electoral journey. And when a concession call arrived from Zuckerman鈥檚 closest competitor, Rebecca Holcombe, he was already talking general-election strategy with his former rival.
鈥淚 do think it鈥檚 quite possible to beat him,鈥� Zuckerman told Holcombe. 鈥淎nd I look forward to maybe talking with you in the next few days about some of the ideas you brought to the table, as well as some tactics you might have to explore that we could talk about together and see what opportunities there are to work together and make it happen.鈥�
"Certainly I wouldn't run against Gov. Scott right now ... I think he has a very solid lock on the governorship." 鈥� Former Democratic candidate for governor Christine Hallquist
With his 10-point win in Tuesday鈥檚 primary, Zuckerman proved he has strong support from Vermont鈥檚 Democratic base. But the Progressive/Democrat now has to convince a much wider swath of Vermonters to vote out their Republican incumbent.
Ted Kohn, a professor of political science at Norwich University, said Zuckerman, who鈥檚 sacrificing his lieutenant governor鈥檚 job to vie for the top spot, will need all the help he can get.
鈥淭he scope of the challenge is near insurmountable,鈥� Kohn said.
Near insurmountable, Kohn said, because commissioned by VPR and Vermont PBS, incumbent Gov. Phil Scott has nearly universal support for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
With COVID-19 at the forefront of voters鈥� minds this election cycle, Kohn said it鈥檚 hard to imagine they鈥檇 switch horses mid-race.
鈥淚 just think Vermont voters are going to find that anathema,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hy would you switch leaders at a time you鈥檝e shown that you鈥檝e got faith in the current executive in Vermont?鈥�
Scott鈥檚 conservative supporters certainly think his handling of COVID-19 will provide a path to reelection.
A super PAC funded by the Republican Governors Association on Monday that features none other than Zuckerman and Holcombe praising Scott鈥檚 coronavirus response.
The RGA will have plenty of other tape to pull from for future ads. During an appearance on VPR鈥檚 All Things Considered earlier this summer, Christine Hallquist, Scott鈥檚 Democratic rival in the 2018 campaign, .
鈥淚 think Vermont should be proud of how the governor and the state is handling this,鈥� Hallquist said. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of how the state of Vermont is handling this, so I just can鈥檛 say enough good things about what the governor is doing.鈥�
And Hallquist, who, said she isn鈥檛 too optimistic about Democrats鈥� chances to reclaim the governor鈥檚 office this November.
鈥淐ertainly I wouldn鈥檛 run against Gov. Scott right now,鈥� Hallquist told VPR鈥檚 Henry Epp. 鈥淚 think he has a very solid lock on the governorship.鈥�
Zuckerman isn鈥檛 ready to concede. And he said Scott鈥檚 high marks on COVID-19 aren鈥檛 necessarily a proxy for how voters feel about his performance as governor.
鈥淭he question is, 鈥業s that approval for the overall situation we鈥檙e in,鈥欌�� Zuckerman said Tuesday.
Zuckerman said he thinks Scott鈥檚 positions on fiscal policy, the environment and social issues are at odds with the majority of the Vermont electorate.
鈥淚s there approval for vetoing the minimum wage that if he hadn鈥檛 done so, would have meant many of our essential workers would have over $1,000 more in their pocket right now?鈥� Zuckerman asked. 鈥淚s there approval for a state that鈥檚 not really taking on the climate crisis or the racial injustice that鈥檚 happening all over the state?鈥�
"If we have the double whammy of spikes in coronavirus in the schools and schools needing to close and parents needing to stay home ... I think absolutely it could be a game changer. It could be that October surprise." 鈥� Ted Kohn, Norwich University political science professor
While voters may be at odds with Scott on some issues, Kohn said that so long as the pandemic remains an integral part of voters鈥� lives, it will also drive their decisions at the ballot box.
However Kohn also said that presents a potential liability for Scott, because just as COVID-19 poses a volatile threat to public health, it could also upend political perceptions overnight.
鈥淚f we have the double whammy of spikes in coronavirus in the schools and schools needing to close and parents needing to stay home 鈥� I think absolutely it could be a game changer,鈥� Kohn said. 鈥淚t could be that October surprise.鈥�
Zuckerman is already urging voters to take a fresh look at Scott's handling of the pandemic.
On Wednesday morning, less than 12 hours after his victory in the primary, Zuckerman suggested Scott is of teachers and students by rushing to .
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