A CNN correspondent suggested Tuesday that the Democratic Party may need to “alienate some white voters” in order to shore up the black vote.

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CNN White House Correspondent Abby Phillip said on “The Lead With Jake Tapper” Tuesday, “Virginia is the kind of state that highlights the key problem for Democrats right now, which is that in order to bring out African-American voters you might have to alienate some white voters.”

She continued, “It’s a purple state. It’s a place where Democrats still have to appeal to some white voters. So that balancing act is really difficult for them to strike right now.”

These comments come as Virginia awaits the results of the governor’s race between Republican Ed Gillespie and Democrat Ralph Northam.

Gillespie has repeatedly attack Northam over MS-13 and sanctuary cities, as well as Northam’s proposed effort to tear down Virginia’s Confederate statues.

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