VIRGINIA SHAKEUP: Earle-Sears surging, Miyares overtakes Jones.

Virginia’s races for governor and attorney general, newly jarred by a turbulent debate and a texting scandal, have suddenly changed three weeks before Election Day, giving new hope to Republicans.

After sitting in a holding pattern for months, Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears has cut Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger’s lead in half, and Attorney General Jason Miyares, running for reelection, has overcome Democrat Jay Jones’ lead.

In a new Trafalgar Group poll of likely general election voters completed Friday, Earle-Sears trailed Spanberger by just 2.6%, 47.7% to 45.1%. And Miyares has overtaken Jones, 48.9% to 43.1%.

That Friday poll couldn’t include the full effect of Spanberger’s Thursday debate performance.

Previously: Watch Spanberger’s Super-Cringeworthy Semi-Demi-Backpedal. “If you watch the clip, you’ll see a candidate who would be in panic if she weren’t a total sociopath incapable of basic human emotion.”