Virginia's 5th District Race Heating Up

Print political advertisements arrived in the mailboxes of many of Virginia's 5th District voters yesterday. The campaigns of Republican Robert Hurt and Democrat Tom Perriello both distributed direct mail pieces featuring negative attacks on their opponents.  Perriello's ad characterized Hurt as a career politician who, quote, "supports tax loopholes that encourage corporations to ship our jobs overseas to foreign countries like China and India."   Hurt's ad said Perriello has been a, quote, "a rubber stamp for Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and the Democrats in Congress to pass their agenda."

The print ads in mailboxes yesterday foreshadowed the televised debate between the candidates that took place in Charlottesville last night.  Perriello, the incumbent, and Hurt, a Virginia state senator, spent a lot of time in the packed auditorium on the attack, but also tried to frame their own positions on the issues.  Hurt presented himself as an advocate for lower taxes and smaller government, while Perriello emphasized his support for education and small businesses, with each candidate saying that his philosophy is the way to create jobs in Virginia and strengthen the economy.

The candidates will meet for their third televised debate Thursday night in Danville, in an event sponsored by the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at University of Virginia.  The 5th District race is considered to be neck-and-neck between Perriello and Hurt, with just under two weeks until election day, November 2.

Jeanne Faulconer, WCVE News, South Hill