By The Lynchburg News & Advance on August 18, 2010

August 18, 2010--Ivy, VA--The Perriello campaign has a new TV ad explaining why Robert Hurt hid from voters at last week's debate: he is too afraid to tell voters why he favors giving generous tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, and then votes against unemployment benefits for those left jobless. Sen. Hurt opposed the bill that would close the tax loophole that rewards corporations who outsource jobs because he signed a pledge to a Washington interest group to keep the tax loopholes open. He has also taken campaign contributions from lobbyists of companies named to Lou Dobbs's "Exporting America" list, which further explains why he wants to protect those companies. 

In the General Assembly, Hurt was one of only nine Senators to vote against a bipartisan bill to provide extended benefits for job training programs for Virginia's unemployed. Sen. Hurt has represented areas of Virginia with some of the highest unemployment rates since 2001. 

"How out-of-touch can Robert Hurt be? First, he says we should continue tax policies that reward companies for shipping good American jobs overseas. Then, he has the nerve to oppose extending unemployment benefits for those who are left jobless. It's no wonder why he's hiding from voters," said Jessica Barba, spokeswoman for the Perriello campaign. "Senator Hurt is clearly doing the bidding of his campaign contributors, lobbyists for companies that outsource jobs. Fifth district voters should know where Senator Hurt's loyalties lie: with companies that outsource jobs, not with Virginians whose jobs have been outsourced." 

The ad is currently running in Charlottesville and Roanoke TV markets. Watch the ad here: 

We have hit an amazing milestone! More than 10,000 people have donated to our campaign. The $5 and $10 donations have come from all corners of the 5th district, showing our incredible grassroots support. But we can't take our foot off the gas now.

The lucky 10,000th donor is Thomas Terry, a forester from Appomattox. When asked why he chose to give to the campaign, he said:

From The Daily Progress on August 15, 2010

Organizers probably were hoping until the last minute that Republican 5th District candidate Robert Hurt would show up at the first debate of the season, held here in Albemarle by the Senior Statesmen of Virginia.

But, no, Mr. Hurt stuck to his intention to avoid any debate that also featured independent candidate Jeff Clark.

He was the first candidate ever to skip a Senior Statesmen of Virginia debate, which has come to be an important fixture of the campaign season.

From: The Daily Progress on August 14, 2010

Fifth District GOP nominee Robert Hurt, who has served in the General Assembly since 2002, has a record of seeking state budget amendments, which serve essentially the same purpose as earmarks do in Congress.

As a GOP candidate for Congress, Robert Hurt has taken a stance squarely against earmarks, but as a member of the General Assembly he sought to attach more than $150 million worth of spending items to Virginia’s budget.

Hurt, who is challenging freshman Democrat Tom Perriello for the 5th District seat in Congress, has pledged to “end the earmark process.” He further promised to “vote against any bill with earmarks in it” and “not request earmarks” if elected to Congress, according to his Aug. 5 endorsement by former GOP primary opponent Jim McKelvey.

Yet Hurt, who has served in the General Assembly since 2002, has a record of seeking state budget amendments, which serve essentially the same purpose as earmarks do in Congress. Earmarks are funding requests that congressmen seek to attach to appropriations bills to pay for a specific project, often in their own district. In Virginia, lawmakers introduce budget amendments to finance programs or projects — often in their district — that were not included in the governor’s original budget proposal.