Gillespie donations triple after ad featuring GOP 'supporter' chasing down minority kids goes viral

Virginia GOP gubernatorial nominee Ed Gillespie revealed Tuesday that his campaign donations have tripled since progressive political organization Latino Victory Fund released an inflammatory ad targeting his campaign.

The ad featured a white man driving a Ford pickup truck bearing a Gillespie bumper sticker and license plates reading "Don't tread on me."

In the video, the vehicle's driver drove the truck directly at a group of fleeing minority children.

What did Gillespie say about the ad?

Gillespie spoke to the Daily Caller where he discussed his — and his family's — reaction to the ad.

“[My family is] infuriated,” Gillespie said. “And they’re disgusted. And I understand that. I think it’s always harder on the family than on the candidate himself or herself, but it’s not pleasant, and it’s the kind of thing that makes good people not want to run for public office.”

Gillespie added that he refuses to be dissuaded because the race isn't about him.

“This race is about the future of the commonwealth I love and my fellow Virginians,” he explained.

Gillespie also addressed the inflammatory ad and revealed that donations to his campaign have tripled.

“Our [online] fundraising has tripled from people who are just disgusted by this and feel that they’re under attack, which they are,” Gillespie said. “But, again, it’s not just my supporters who are under attack here. It’s all those good, decent Virginians who may not agree with me, but understand that this is not good for the commonwealth of Virginia and that this kind of political attack and these smear campaigns are not good for the country and they’re not good for the commonwealth.”

A new Washington Post-Schar School poll finds that Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam’s lead over Gillespie has narrowed to five percentage points, down from 13 points a month ago. The election is next Tuesday.