San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro Campaigns For Terry McAuliffe in Woodbridge

San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro joined other campaign volunteers in Woodbridge today to canvass for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe.

"Everyone around the nation is watching this campaign," Castro said in his remarks to those gathered. After last year's huge voter turnout for the presidential election, Castro worries that voters will stay home for this election.

Castro, who was just elected to his third term as mayor, was the keynote speaker for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. He campaigned for President Barack Obama in Woodbridge last year. House of Delegates candidates Mike Futrell and Hung Nguyen, Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta, and Prince William County Democratic Committee Chair Harry Wiggins were also present at today's canvassing event to support McAuliffe.

Castro grew up in Texas, "the state that has brought you great barbecue, Shiner Bock beer, and Ted Cruz," he said. "Two out of three isn't bad." 

Castro contrasted McAuliffe with other Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli.

"Terry wants to govern in an inclusive way for all Virginians," Castro said. "He is focused on the right things that someone needs to be focused on to ensure opportunity and prosperity in the 21st century global economy."

These focuses include creating jobs and investing in pre-K through 12th grade education, he added.

"The year that I applied to college, my mother was making $19,000 that year," he said. "The only reason that we were able to go to Stanford University is that we had worked hard and they had worked hard, but there were also Perkins Loans and Stafford Loans and Pell Grants and Work-Studies." 

Cuccinelli, Castro said, has "tried to appeal to a very small slice of the electorate with a myopic vision of the future -- the tea party."

"Right now in Washington, DC, with this government shutdown, we're seeing essentially what happens when their vision comes to life," Castro said. "You have folks who don't just want a smaller government. They hate government. And in Terry, you have someone who wants to work with everyone, and who has a positive vision for the future."