Richmond, Virginia (CNN) -- The Virginia governor's race, billed as the marquee battle of an otherwise anticlimactic 2013 election cycle, is shaping up to be a foregone conclusion. Democrat Terry McAuliffe, the longtime political fixer and moneyman, hasn't trailed in a poll since May. Barring a political miracle, Republican Ken Cuccinelli will be delivering a concession speech on Tuesday evening in Richmond. In recent cycles, the Virginia race has been a key off-year barometer of national political sentiment. Four years ago, Republican Bob McDonnell won in blowout fashion, a victory that presaged the following year's GOP midterm wave. In 2005, Democrat Tim Kaine captured the governor's mansion, tapping into anxiety about President George W. Bush's handling of the Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina.
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Democrats made Ken Cuccinelli's conservative views on women's issues a focus
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Virginia governor's race is rare one in which Democrats are outspending Republicans
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Cuccinelli campaign hoping it can mobilize enough of its base to save victory
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Governor's race gave Bill and Hillary Clinton a gateway back into campaign politics
Virginia
Virginia
Virginia
Virginia
But despite the lack of late fireworks, there are plenty of crucial insights to be gleaned from the @placeholder campaign.
Terry McAuliffe
It helps that @placeholder is one of the Democratic Party's most prolific fundraisers, running in a state with porous campaign finance laws.
Democrats
Democrats
It helps that McAuliffe is one of the @placeholder's most prolific fundraisers, running in a state with porous campaign finance laws.
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Republican
GOP
One reason for the smaller haul: A number of reliable @placeholder donors, anxious about Cuccinelli's social agenda, have held back their support.
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Republican
GOP
Polls show @placeholder slightly less supportive of Cuccinelli than Democrats are of McAuliffe.
Terry McAuliffe
Polls show Republicans slightly less supportive of Cuccinelli than Democrats are of @placeholder.
Republican
Republican
GOP
With Democrats bullish on their chances at winning the governorship and the lieutenant governor's race -- in which @placeholder nominated a long-shot candidate, the fiery former pastor E.W.