Grisham campaigns with Perriello

BY BERNARD BAKER Media General News Service
Published: August 1, 2008

MARTINSVILLE - Novelist John Grisham’s campaign appearance with Democrat Tom Perriello seemed like a natural fit.

Perriello has made issues affecting working-class families a major theme of his campaign, while many of Grisham’s books center on poor people fighting against the rich and powerful.

About 200 people showed up in Thursday’s sweltering heat at Binding Time Café for the book signing and campaign stop.

Grisham said he’s known Perriello for about a year or two, but has known the Charlottesville Democrat’s family for many years.

Grisham would not take any shots at Congressman Virgil Goode, the long-term incumbent Perriello hopes to unseat.

“I’d like to see him replaced,“ Grisham said. “Twelve years is enough for Virgil.“

He said Perriello is an idealist who is pragmatic.

The author, who owns a home near Charlottesville, said the 5th District House candidate reminds him a lot of himself. Grisham was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1983 and served until 1990.

He has donated to several Democratic candidates, including former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner.

Perriello talked to people while they waited to get their books signed.

Cari Zimmer of Martinsville questioned Perriello on the possibility of the U.S. building a fence to keep illegal immigrants out of the country, and wondered where he stands on a guest-worker program.

Perriello said a fence is not going to keep illegal immigrants out of the U.S., adding that employers need to be held accountable if they hire undocumented workers.

Perriello said he continues to make Southside the emphasis of his campaign.

“This campaign is all about Southside,“ he said, noting that he hoped bringing Grisham to the area would bring national attention to the race.

Perriello held several campaign events Wednesday in Martinsville and Henry County. About 100 people were expected to attend a barbecue dinner in Axton and House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong planned a fundraiser for Perriello at the Chatmoss Country Club.

Bernard Baker is a staff writer for the Danville Register & Bee in Danville, Va.