The Washington Post and the gay lobby will tear him to shreds.
They will also be blaming him for Abu Grahib, Haditha, and Rush Limbaugh.
Without a doubt WAPO would target him as they did Allen. It would be their personal cause.
Unlike Allen, Pace has a military rank that would actually inoculate him to a degree in Virginia. WAPO can attack, but Virginians have a soft spot for the military. Don’t assume they’d side with WAPO.
Consider, also, that Hillary would be on the ticket.
Allen barely lost his election after running a terrible campaign. Even after “macaca” he was leading, until he started using a novel to attack his opponent.
Should Pace run a good campaign, and Warner have the drag of Hillary in a presidential year, it would be close but he could win.