McAuliffe, Cuccinelli Relying on Big Names as Election Day Nears

Both Virginia gubernatorial candidates are calling on political big guns as they focus on the last four days of campaigning before Election Day.

Republican Ken Cuccinelli will bring Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to rallies in Spotsylvania and Woodbridge Saturday. Monday, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is scheduled to join the entire GOP ticket at several stops.

Democrat Terry McAuliffe is drawing on the biggest political name of all: President Barack Obama will headline a rally for the Democrats Sunday at Arlington's Washington-Lee High School.

The next day, Vice President Joe Biden will help pump up supporters in Annandale.

Cuccinelli has made the president and the Affordable Care Act his primary target in the closing weeks of the campaign. During a conference call with reporters, Cuccinelli said bringing the president to Virginia only strengthens his campaign, as every day brings more troubling news about the administration of the health care sign-ups.

"I'm scared about what Obamacare is doing to Virginia," Cuccinelli said. "Terry McAuliffe is scared about what Obamacare is doing to Terry McAuliffe."

But McAuliffe remains a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act and his campaign believes the president's campaign stop will help turnout in vote-rich northern Virginia.

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One notable GOP leader is missing from the final rally – Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. He told WTOP last week he has done everything he has been asked by Cuccinelli’s campaign.

The newest poll from Christopher Newport University's Wason Center for Public Policy shows McAuliffe winning the support of 45 percent of likely voters, compared to 38 percent for Cuccinelli and 10 percent for Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis.

"With four days left in the election it's clear that Virginia wants Terry McAuliffe to be the next governor," McAuliffe spokesperson Josh Schwerin said Friday.

But Democrats acknowledge turnout will be critical in an off-election year in which some observers predict it could drop below 40 percent as contrasted to 80 percent of active voters in last year's presidential contest.

Cuccinelli said the Obama visit and the healthcare website difficulties have energized his supporters.

"We are positioning ourselves to shock the political world with a big win on Tuesday," said Cuccinelli.

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