The barn is officially blazing in the Virginia governor’s race. Behind by 13 points at the beginning of October, Republican challenger Ed Gillespie has pulled within just 4 points of Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam. Three weeks before Election Day, and for the first time, Gillespie is within the margin of error.

A Wason Center poll from Christopher Newport University shows Northam slowing and Gillespie gaining as the race narrows 48 to 44 percent.

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Virginia is traditionally billed as a bellwether because of its purplish color and its timely off-year governor’s race. The swing-state with an off-year statewide race provides a barometer of the electorate’s mood. As the Old Dominion goes, so (supposedly) goes the nation. That should absolutely terrify Democrats, because Gillespie always breaks late.

While Gillespie campaigns like a traditionally boring Republican, he runs brutally focused campaigns. Against Democrat Sen. Mark Warner in 2014, he trailed by double digits throughout the race. A Roanoke College poll at the time put Gillespie behind by as much as a dozen points. He lost by less than a point.

Now according to this poll and at his current trajectory, Gillespie seems poised for an upset in the governor’s race.

Philip Wegmann is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.