McDonnell joins GOP governors on national tour in final election push

As part of a final push to get out the vote before the Nov. 2 election, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and four other Republican governors will embark on a tour across the nation.

The Oct. 26-30 swing will take McDonnell to Iowa, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

Others on the tour include New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was elected in 2009 along with McDonnell; Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour; chairman of the Republican Governors Association; and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana; both considered rising stars in the party and possible presidential candidates.

"This campaign season has become a battle between rhetoric and reality," RGA spokesman Mike Schrimpf said. "To distract from their failed economic record and ideas, Democrats nationally are repeating the same old, unfounded charges about Republican candidates that they used last year against Governors Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell."

The full schedule of the tour is below:

Oct. 26
Hobbs, NM - Governors Haley Barbour and Bobby Jindal
Riverton, WY - Governor Haley Barbour
Sioux Falls, SD - Governor Haley Barbour

Oct. 27
Newton, IA - Governors Haley Barbour, Bob McDonnell and Bobby Jindal
Milwaukee, WI - Governors Haley Barbour, Bob McDonnell and Bobby Jindal
Homer Glen, IL - Governors Haley Barbour, Bob McDonnell and Bobby Jindal

Oct. 28
Manchester, NH - Governors Haley Barbour and Bob McDonnell
Blue Bell, PA - Governors Haley Barbour and Bob McDonnell

Oct. 29
Reading, PA - Governors Haley Barbour, Chris Christie and Tim Pawlenty
Lancaster, PA - Governors Haley Barbour, Chris Christie and Tim Pawlenty
Lebanon, OH - Governors Haley Barbour, Chris Christie and Tim Pawlenty
Pontiac, MI - Governors Haley Barbour and Chris Christie

Oct. 30
Portland Area, OR - Governors Haley Barbour and Chris Christie
Anoka, MN - Governors Haley Barbour and Tim Pawlenty
Tampa, FL - Governor Haley Barbour
TBD, WI - Governor Chris Christie