The Perriello for Congress campaign held a kick-off event at a home in Charlottesville Saturday to promote the re-election of Congressman Tom Perriello, D-Charlottesville. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, gave his support to the campaign in a speech at the event. The 2010 election year is one in which experts expect Democrats to lose seats.
State Sen. Robert Hurt, R-Danville, is challenging Perriello, a freshman incumbent, as well as independent Jeffrey Clark, a member of the Danville Tea Party who was unhappy with Hurt's nomination as the conservative candidate and decided to run in opposition.
"After Labor Day, the students are back and it's time to get serious about the campaign," Perriello field organizer Jon Green said. Green said the Perriello campaign had received many calls from Democrats who did not have competitive races in their areas and wanted to work on this campaign.
Warner spoke of using a more personal touch in campaigning than the typical automated calls and e-mails and also highlighted the importance of everyday people canvassing and showing their support in what is expected to be a close election.
"At the end of the day, this will be a relatively low-turnout election," Warner said.
Republicans have criticized Perriello's support for President Obama's health care plan, and a poll taken earlier this month by the American Action Forum called his vote for the plan "his greatest tested weakness" among voters in the district.
Attempts to contact the Robert Hurt for Congress offices were not returned as of press time.
Prime targets of the Democratic canvassers in this election are Obama "surge" voters, who had never voted prior to the 2008 election, Green said. The Democratic campaigns believe that they are a potentially powerful source of votes if they can be convinced to once again come out to support Democratic candidates.
First-year College student Daniel Strubler came out to the kick-off after hearing about the event at a University Democrats meeting. He said he supports Perriello because of his economics platform and his vote against the financial reform bill.
"I come from Southside Virginia and I've been really affected by the economy," Strubler said. "Perriello's done a lot for Southside, particularly my hometown of Danville."
Perriello gained office in 2008 by upsetting Republican incumbent Virgil Goode. Elections will take place Nov. 2.
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