Brat Sees Momentum in Tough Race

Conservative Virginia Rep. Dave Brat is facing his toughest Democratic challenge since coming to Congress but says clarity on the issues and a reinvigorated GOP base have him peaking at the right time.Brat shot to stardom in June 2014, when he stunned sitting House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the seventh district's Republican congressional primary.  But after two smooth general election victories, Democrats see Brat as vulnerable in a district that stretches from near Fredericksburg south of Richmond.Former CIA operative Abigail Spanberger won the Democratic nomination earlier this year and a recent New York Times poll showed Brat ahead 47-43 percent but the margin of error was as big as his lead.Nonetheless, Brat says momentum is on his side after the intense confirmation fight that concluded last week."After the Kavanaugh hearings, I think it's four (points) plus a big upward bump.  The American people are finally zooming in.  They're noticing that my opponent doesn't have a platform.  She's not running on any issues whatsoever," said Brat.Brat says the strong economy is better than any ad he could run."My district is booming.  The jobs are doing great.  There's more job openings than people searching," said Brat.Spanberger is attacking Brat for trying to end mandates that insurance providers extend coverage to Americans with pre-existing conditions.  Brat says the charge is ludicrous."The mainstream media doesn't do news anymore.  If everybody missed the memo, that was the biggest debate of the year.  We had the health care vote and we all voted for pre-existing conditions.  That shows you how the Democrats are hurting.  We're ahead.  They're losing, so they have to spread total pants-on-fire falsehoods," said Brat.Listen here for the full interview as Brat reacts to House Republicans promising to vote on legislation to fund the border wall after the midterms and he discusses a controversial element of Spanberger's past.