Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta says he's noticing fewer flags bearing President Donald Trump's name across rural Virginia, which he said signals a "vibe shift."
During a Thursday episode of "The Jim Acosta Show," Acosta told Beth Macy, a Democratic congressional candidate from the region, that she has a real chance to take over a GOP seat based on what he's seeing. Macy is running to unseat Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA).
"Something culturally is changing in that part of Virginia in rural Virginia," Acosta said. "I'm not seeing as many Trump flags as I used to. I used to see them all the time driving around."
Acosta explained that his theory is "when the gas prices go up, the Trump flags come down. That's what I've been seeing."
"Exactly," Macy agreed.
The candidate said that the change is turning up in territory she called "as red as it can be." She described a beef farmer "whose family has been on that property since the Revolutionary War for 300 years" and who is married to a Marine Corps vet.
The couple "have never voted Democrat in their lives," Macy said, but asked a volunteer for a 'Beth Macy' yard sign. "They go, 'We'll take one!'"
Macy tied the shift to prices, saying Cline "put up an ad" that claimed he helped get gas prices "low" even as diesel climbed.
"Diesel is up to $6.54 now, an all-time rate in history," Macy said, recounting a voter who told her, "I'm sick of being gas lit."
Acosta cited the Wall Street Journal, noting the average price of a gallon of diesel "hit a fresh record high of $6.27."
Macy also pointed to a protest group in Woodstock that gathers "over the I-81 bridge every Saturday," saying the reaction has "flipped" against Trump and the GOP.
"When we first started protesting...it was eight people flipping them off for every one person honking in support," Macy said. "Now it's flipped. It's one to eight."
Acosta agreed, saying, "I am feeling a vibe shift. I certainly am."