Video from Albemarle GOP Rally for Robert Hurt

Halloween is more than just "trick or treat."  In most years, it's just a few days before an election and therefore is a last-minute opportunity for campaigning.

So it was in Charlottesville on Sunday, October 31, a bright, sunny, unseasonably warm day perfect for going door-to-door to beg for candy and votes.

Two of the candidates seeking election to Congress in Virginia's Fifth District also used the time to rally supporters.  Incumbent Congressman Tom Perriello (D-Ivy) visited the Grounds of the University of Virginia, where he was surrounded by children trick-or-treating on Mr. Jefferson's lawn -- and their voting-age parents.

His Republican opponent, state Senator Robert Hurt of Chatham, spoke at a gathering of GOP activists at Albemarle Square on Route 29 north of the city.  Hurt was introduced by Governor Bob McDonnell after speeches by RPV Chairman Pat Mullins, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA7), who, as several speakers pointed out, is poised to become Majority Leader of the House of Representatives when the current holder of that title, Ohio Congressman John Boehner, becomes Speaker next January.

I was able to capture the entire event on video, in five parts.

In the first part, Albemarle County Republican chair Rachel Schoenewald makes some introductions, followed by Pat Mullins and Ken Cuccinelli (who points out the presence of "Death himself" in the audience, admonishing "Death" not to vote on Tuesday).

In part two, Bill Bolling speaks and introduces Eric Cantor.

In part three, former Delegate and current Congressman Eric Cantor delivers remarks, and then introduces Bob McDonnell.

In part four, Cantor introduces "His Excellency, the Governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell," who speaks and introduces Robert Hurt. McDonnell begins with a reference to the UVA defeat of the University of Miami in Saturday's football game, which stirs up the crowd.

In the fifth and last segment, Robert Hurt makes the case for his election on Tuesday and the defeat of Tom Perriello. The candidate naturally mentioned his endorsement by the local newspaper, The Daily Progress, which had been published early Sunday morning.  After Hurt finishes, Pat Mullins wraps it up with encouraging words for the crowd and an invitation to them to volunteer to work on the campaign for the next two days.

Photos of the rally can be seen on Facebook, here.

Interviews I have conducted with Robert Hurt are here and here; an interview with Tom Perriello, in which he cites a "libertarian undercurrent" for his vote in favor of Obamacare, is here. (Those interviews, and interviews I have done with other congressional candidates in the 2010 election, can be found on Examiner.com.)

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