Dems: McDonnell's True Feelings for NoVa Revealed

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Huckabee Tells Southwestern Virginians That Northern Virginians Think Differently

At a campaign stop for GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, Democrats tape ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's comments about the different mindsets of northern Virginians and southwestern Virginians.

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Virginia Democrats are accusing the Republican candidate for governor of singling out northern Virginia for ridicule.

Former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee riled Democrats when he campaigned for GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell over the weekend.

McDonnell, the former state attorney general kicked off his campaign in Annandale, underscoring the fact that he grew up in Fairfax County and has strong ties and loyalties to northern Virginia. But his campaign swing also took him to southwest Virginia -- Tazewell County -- where he was joined by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Democrats taped comments made by Huckabee they say show an attempt by Republicans to divide the state.

"You can't let one vote get left behind here, because there's going to be some folks up there near the Beltway -- and I need to let you know, I'm sure you already know this -- they aren't necessarily thinking the same way folks like you and me think.

He added, "They may never have fully understood how hard it is for a lot of people to put a paycheck together, to be able to feed a family."

Democrats said the comments show McDonnell does not truly support northern Virginia.

"Virginians want a leader who's going to bring us together, not pit one part of Virginia against the other," said Democratic Party of Virginia spokesman Jared Leopold. "We hope that Bob McDonnell joins us in rejecting this sort of divisive politics."

But McDonnell spokesman J. Tucker Martin said McDonnell strongly supports northern Virginia.

"Speaking in Tazewell County, where the unemployment rate is 20 percent, compared to the statewide average of 7 percent, Gov. Huckabee made some unfortunate comments. However, the only name on the ballot this fall on the Republican side is Bob McDonnell, and only he speaks for this campaign," the candidate's spokesman said.