than expected at 48 to 45.5%. mcauliffe owed a debt of gratitude to the female voters. the women were enough to carry mcauliffe to victory. virginia s election will provide the gop, which is quietly but undoubtedly, still ingaugengage civil war on some issues. in the wake of a republican-led government shutdown that furloughed thousands of virginiaens, 56% of those affected supported mcauliffe. but defenders of cuccinelli will note their candidate remained throughout the race at a major spending disadvantage and mcauliffe was aided by a libertarian candidate who siphoned votes from cuccinelli.