Hurt highlights Perriello climate vote ahead of Obama visit

Vulnerable Rep. Tom Perriello’s (D-Va.) GOP foe attacked him Friday for standing with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on her “signature” issues — including the cap-and-trade bill that the House approved in 2009.

The criticism from state Sen. Robert Hurt (R) comes hours before President Obama will appear with Perriello — a first-term lawmaker who barely won the seat in 2008 — at a rally in Perriello’s central Virginia district.

Hurt accused Perriello of running a negative campaign during a Republican National Committee conference call with Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the House minority whip.

“He doesn't want to talk about his record and the fact that he has stood with Nancy Pelosi 90 percent of the time on ... all of her signature issues and all the president's signature issues, on healthcare, cap-and-trade, and this failed stimulus package that has left Virginia's 5th district with 11,000 jobs fewer than when the bill was originally signed,” Hurt said.

“So in a way, I think it's refreshing to see that he's now embracing the president in this late hour. I think that it shows that he recognizes that his campaign up to this point is not convincing people of his commitment to the people of the 5th district,” Hurt added.

Perriello voted for the sweeping climate and energy bill that narrow passed in 2009 and has strongly defended the measure at a time when Republicans have made attacks on cap-and-trade a campaign-trail staple.