The Roanoke Times The most recent debate between the Democratic candidates for governor did little to change the dynamics of the race â former Gov. Terry McAuliffe remains in charge â and even less to address the economy of rural Virginia. We canât say weâre surprised, but we are disappointed. The whole point of having a debate in Bristol was that the party acknowledged there really is a part of Virginia outside the urban crescent. Too bad the candidates served up mostly platitudes about the region, when they acknowledged it at all. State Sen. Jennifer McClellan delivered perhaps the most memorable line, about her 10-year-old son asking about the likelihood of being shot by police.