ARLINGTON, Va. - The highly charged race for Virginia Attorney General has only grown more intense in these final days after Republican Ken Cuccinelli made comments about gay rights that led to the Washington Post's editorial page labeling him a "bigot."

Cuccinelli told the Virginian Pilot newspaper "My view is that homosexual acts ... are wrong. They're intrinsically wrong. And I think in a natural law based country it's appropriate to have policies that reflect that."

The Washington Post said, "Given his bizarre ideas, he would very likely become an embarrassment for the commonwealth."

But Cuccinelli and his supporters say he's simply a true conservative.

Friday at Freddie's Beach Bar and Restaurant in Arlington, patrons said they hope anyone elected attorney general would fight discrimination against gays.

"Obviously the majority of Virginia voters are not homosexuals," said Ray Martin, a Loudoun County (web | news) voter. "But they've got loved ones or friends or relatives who are. And I think they would find it very disappointing that those people could be discriminated against."

"There is some discrimination but it should be equal -- for every color, race and gender," added Gary Korzenewski, an Alexandria (web | news) voter.

"It's shocking and it's unprecedented for any candidate for statewide office to say," said Del. Adam Ebbin, a Democrat who represents District 49. "We've come to expect better in Virginia. If he's elected it would be an embarrassment for Virginia."

Cuccinelli says he opposes workplace protections for gays but told us he would enforce Virginia law equally.

"I am a consistent conservative who is true to the law, whatever the law may be," he said.

But David Lampo, from gay advocacy group Log Cabin Republicans of Virginia, told us, "Our by-laws don't allow us to endorse Democrats, but I personally am encouraging other gay Republicans to vote for (Cuccinelli opponent) Steve Shannon."


A SurveyUSA poll Monday showed Cuccinelli -- a former state senator -- leading his Democratic opponent, Del. Steve Shannon, by 19 percentage points.

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