Polls have shown a close contest, although no recent survey has given Gillespie a lead. In the past two days, universities and media organizations have released five polls — three have shown leads for Northam, and two have shown a tied race. By  


McLEAN, Va. — With pressure building in a tight race, Virginia’s leading gubernatorial candidates eschewed face-to-face political combat in their debate Tuesday night. Instead, their gentlemanly exchange contained few personal attacks and plenty of policy contrast on economic development, health care and immigration.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and Ed Gillespie, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, debated with few fireworks. Neither man deployed his most potent attacks against the other, and both ducked and dodged on some hot-button issues. There was no defining moment to be found.

Click to continue reading about their differences on Virginia’s economic, health care and immigration issues.