Ron Paul endorses Cuccinelli in VA race

Former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) has endorsed Republican nominee Ken Cuccinelli in the Virginia governor’s race.

Paul, a two-time former presidential candidate, said Cuccinelli shared his libertarian views, even as the current Virginia Attorney General has come under fire from Democrats for his positions on social issues.

{mosads}Polls have shown Cuccinelli trailing Democrat Terry McAuliffe in one of the most closely-watched – and combative – political races in the country this year.

“Ken Cuccinelli has always stood for smaller government and limited government, he has consistently and unapologetically worked with the Liberty movement in Virginia,” Paul said in a statement. “His stand against ObamaCare shows he is willing to stand up to Washington’s continued abuses on our individual liberties. I am proud to endorse Ken for Governor of Virginia.”

Paul praised Cuccinelli for his efforts to oppose President Obama’s health care law prior to his run for governor.

“We have a federal government that is out of control, spends too much, borrows too much, taxes too much and continues to infringe on the constitution and states’ rights,” he wrote in a letter to the gubernatorial candidate.

“Of course, one of the most egregious assaults on states’ rights and individual freedom has been the passage and implementation of ObamaCare,” Paul continued. “Your almost immediate court challenge to ObamaCare shows that you are exactly the kind of person we need in Richmond to lead the Commonwealth.”

Recent polls also find that Cuccinelli has been hurt by the shutdown’s impact, as Virginia is home to many federal workers.