Obama adds stop for Rep. Perriello to campaign schedule

Four days before Election Day, President Obama will go to Virginia to campaign for an endangered House Democrat who backed him on several major legislative items. 

Obama is scheduled to appear in Charlottesville on behalf of freshman Rep. Tom Perriello (D), who is locked in a tough reelection battle with state Sen. Robert Hurt (R). Obama will appear at the Charlottesville Pavilion, according to Perriello spokeswoman Jessica Barba.

{mosads}The campaign in Virginia’s 5th congressional district has been one of the most closely watched of the cycle and Obama’s visit will thrust it even further into the spotlight.

Unlike other endangered Democrats, Perriello has not shied away from his voting record on the campaign trail, which contains votes for key Obama agenda items.

The congressman voted for the healthcare reform law, the stimulus and the House’s cap-and-trade energy legislation, but opposed the financial reform bill, saying it did not go far enough. 

Most polls show Hurt leading the race by single digits, but Democrats hope Obama’s visit gives Perriello a boost heading into Election Day. 

The Hill 2010 Midterm Election poll, conducted a month ago, found Hurt in the lead by one point.

Hurt campaign spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said that Obama’s visit “will further solidify the idea in the minds of voters that Congressman Perriello has been nothing more than a lap dog for the job killing Obama-Pelosi agenda, representing their interests, not the interests of Central and Southside Virginians.”

In 2008 Obama was the first Democratic presidential nominee since 1964 to win Virginia’s electoral votes, but he narrowly lost the 5th district to Republican nominee John McCain, 51 percent to 48 percent. 

The president will spend the weekend before the election rallying Democratic voters in various cities, including Bridgeport, Conn.; Chicago; Philadelphia; and Cleveland.

— This post was updated at 4:54 p.m.