Goode has slight lead over Perriello

By BERNARD BAKER and SARAH ARKIN
Register & Bee staff writers
Published: November 3, 2008

A new poll indicates the 5th District House race between Congressman Virgil Goode and Democratic challenger Tom Perriello is a dead heat.

Goode leads Perriello 50 to 47 percent in the SurveyUSA poll.

The poll predicts the Rocky Mount Republican will hold his seat in Congress if black turnout on Election Day is 22 percent as expected, but may be in trouble if the number of black voters hits 25 percent in the district.

Goode leads by 25 points among white voters, while Perriello leads by 70 points among black voters, according to the survey.

The six-term incumbent picked up a last-minute endorsement Monday from former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger.

“I believe it is absolutely essential that Congressman Virgil Goode be re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives,” Eagleburger said in a prepared statement. “The dangers of Democratic Party dominance of the Congress are great. We need staunch conservatives such as Congressman Goode.”

Eagleburger said Perriello’s national security consultant claims are at best minimal and “by no means as extensive as that of Congressman Goode.”

Groups such as the National Right to Life Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee spent $139,601 attacking Perriello, while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spent $360,420 trying to get him elected.

Perriello took in $13,500 in last-minute contributions, according to the Federal Election Commission. Goode reported $5,000 in similar contributions Sunday.

Contact Bernard Baker at or (434) 791-7986 or Sarah Arkin at or (434) 791-7983.