WASHINGTON – There are only two months until Virginia’s governor election, and candidates are expected to pick up the pace. With Labor Day over and summer fading out, the campaign for governor could get dramatic.

“The campaigns will both engage in carpet bombing on the television between now and election day,” says University of Mary Washington’s Steve Farnsworth. For Democrat Terry McAuliffe, the key to winning could be getting other Democrats out to vote.

“[Ken] Cuccinelli has the advantage of being Republican in a state that still, I think, tilts a bit more Republican than Democrat.

But while Republicans may have an affiliation advantage in Virginia, Farnsworth says scandals involving both Cuccinelli and incumbent Gov. Bob McDonnell may sway GOP turnout and the all important independent vote.

Overall, Farnsworth says both parties are looking to Virginia as an indicator of how 2014 midterm elections will shake out for Congress.

High turn out among African American voters, people under 30 and those living in Northern Virginia are also expected to impact the coming Virginia election.

WTOP’s Hank Silverberg contributed to this report.