6 reasons why Josh Stein is a weak candidate for governor

But he still might win in 2024

In just three minutes, Attorney General Josh Stein revealed the two-step approach that will consume the next 21 months of his life: Trash Mark Robinson, and try to appear normal.

Stein jumped into the 2024 governor’s race last week with a highly unusual campaign video for what is likely to be a highly unusual race. His message makes a powerful argument for his candidacy — but also reveals his many significant weaknesses.

It also gives significant airtime to somebody who hasn’t even formally announced his candidacy: Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a controversial political dynamo on the right. It’s rare for a gubernatorial candidate to announce this early, but it’s virtually unheard of to open with a direct assault on a political rival.

Should this matchup come to pass, the Robinson-Stein race could very well turn into the kind of bruising, nasty campaign that will still be studied and analyzed in history classes 50 years from now, alongside those waged between U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms and Jim Hunt…