Goode, Perriello divvy up endorsements

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: October 10, 2008

U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Arlington, visited Charlottesville on Friday to endorse Democrat Tom Perriello in his bid to unseat longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-Rocky Mount.

Endorsing Perriello alongside Webb were veterans Maj. Gen. James Kelley (ret.) and Jim Morin, a former Army captain who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is scheduled to appear in Charlottesville on Monday to also endorse Perriello and take part in Perriello’s “tithing” activity, in which the campaign’s volunteers perform community service in the 5th District.

On Friday, Perriello’s campaign surpassed 1,000 hours of volunteer work in the district, which includes Char-lottesville and Albemarle County and stretches all the way down to Southside.
For his part, Goode has also received several high-profile endorsements. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee has endorsed Goode, as has Attorney General Bob McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling.

A long line of lawmakers in the 5th District has also endorsed Goode, included Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle County, Del, Watkins M. Abbitt Jr., I-Appomattox, and Del. Lacey E. Putney, I-Bedford.

The latest poll in the race has Goode at 55 percent and Perriello at 42 percent. With one month before the Nov. 4 election, Perriello had closed in the GOP incumbent by a net of 20 points.