Shannon blasts Cuccinelli in new ad

If the candidates for attorney general have one thing it common it's this: they both seem stuck on the events surrounding the Aug. 19 legislative special session to fix laws on how courtroom testimony about evidence is presented.

Republican Ken Cuccinelli contends that his opponent reacted poorly to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in late June placing a burden on prosecutors to present forensic scientists as live witnesses at trial.

The high court decision could have resulted in drunk driving and drug cases being tossed out of court, said Cuccinelli, who has sponsored two campaign ads focusing on the special session.

Democrat Steve Shannon says he responded quickly to the ruling and enlisted Gov. Timothy M. Kaine earlier this week to make his case.

Now, Shannon is up with a new television ad citing Cuccinelli's lack of experience as a prosecutor to counter attacks that he miscalculated the impact of the Supreme Court decision.

The ad claims Cuccinelli opposed "tougher penalties for repeat drunk drivers" in the General Assembly. Interestingly, the bill mentioned in the spot was sponsored by Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell in 2004.

-- Julian Walker

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