News

Actions

Mrs. McAuliffe campaigns with former first ladies; Cuccinelli stumps with SC gov.

Posted at 6:47 PM, Oct 16, 2013
and last updated 2013-10-16 19:25:37-04

RICHMOND, VA (WTVR) -- Less than 24 hours after CBS 6 told viewersthat Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli have yet to respond to requests for one-on-one interviews, both campaigns were out and about in Central Virginia Tuesday.

CBS 6 sent requests to Cuccinelli, McAuliffe, and Libertarian Robert Sarvis in July, BUT so far only Sarvis has responded.

Tuesday, Dorothy McAuliffe, the wife of Terry McAuliffe, campaigned with several of Virginia's former First Ladies - including the wives of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine - in Richmond.

Mrs. McAuliffe DID speak one on one with CBS 6 about the state of the race.

Mrs. McAuliffe told CBS 6 political reporter Joe St. George that the campaign is focused on voter turnout.

"We are focused on getting the vote out that the really important thing we can do right now," Mrs. McAuliffe said.

Mrs. McAuliffe however did not want to speak about the negative nature of the race, media strategy, or how she would be different than current First Lady Maureen McDonnell.

"I'm not here to talk about the campaign in terms of negative messaging," Mrs. McAuliffe said.

Meanwhile up 95 North in Ashland, Republican Ken Cuccinelli campaigned with South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

Cuccinelli did speak with CBS 6 but not one on one but in the popular "gaggle" format where several reporters attempt to ask questions at the same time.

As for whether or not Cuccinelli believes the polls that show him trailing in the race, Cuccinelli expressed pessimism.

"Do you believe the polls?" asked CBS 6's Joe St. George.

"Not the usual ones, they poll on presidential year politics," Cuccinelli said.

As for Cuccinelli's response to the onslaught of negative advertisements bought by the McAuliffe campaign highlighting Cuccinelli's past record on women issues, Cuccinelli was passionate.

"One of the challenging things to deal with is the other side is continually lying and their target has been scaring women," Cuccinelli said.

As for Haley, she had some choice words for Terry McAuliffe regarding his tax returns.

"I have one request for Terry McAuliffe. He went through South Carolina and demanded Mitt Romney show his tax returns. Why has Terry McAuliffe not released his tax returns?," Haley said.

While Haley said she "has no time for Washington" after the recent government shutdown, Haley did not waver in supporting the Tea Party.

"The only group that is trying to make the Tea Party a liability - respectfully - is the press," Haley said.