Conversation so far:
Did Tim Kaine run for Governor?
Kaine ran for governor.
In which state?
Virginia.
Did he win?
Kaine ultimately prevailed, winning.
Who did he run against?
Jerry W.
Kilgore.
Was Kilgore a Republican?
Republican.
Was there anybody else in the race?
A third candidate--independent state Senator H.
Russell Potts Jr..
What was the race like?
sharply negative in its final weeks.

Question: How was it negative?
Self-contained rewrite: How was the governor race negative in its final weeks?