"Democratic candidate Tom Perriello’s campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives launched its first widespread public initiative this week with ads on Christian radio stations throughout the 5th District.

The campaign said it chose gospel stations specifically to emphasize the importance of religious faith in Perriello’s background.

“Tom’s faith and the values that he got from his faith are such a big part of why he’s chosen to live a life of service,” Jessica Barba, Perriello’s communications director, said Tuesday.

That commitment to service, Perriello has said, is what’s guiding his run for Congress.

The Charlottesville Democrat, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode in the November election, gets to the Bible right off the bat in one ad:

“In the book of Micah, the prophet asks, what does the Lord require of you? The answer: to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.”

The ad goes on to delineate some of the overseas work Perriello has done in helping promote justice and an end to genocide.

The candidate also talks about faith-based initiatives he has founded in the U.S. and states that his goal is to bring jobs and increase access to health care in his “hometown” of Southside Virginia.

“We want to walk the walk with the kind of values Tom’s going to bring to Congress,” Barba said. “It’s something we hear on the campaign trail that people are responding to in a positive way. Tom really shares their values.”

Thus far in the campaign, the “tithing initiative,” having campaign volunteers dedicate 10 percent of their time to community service, has been the most tangible manifestation of the candidate’s faith-based ideals.

Perriello’s radio ads are currently airing on WKBY, WDVA, WILA, WVOV, WSBV (South Boston), WFIC (Collinsville) and will continue through the remainder of the campaign season." (Sarah Arkin, Danville Register Bee, June 18, 2008)