FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Just days before Election Day, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) made a surprise cameo on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, which drew criticism from his Republican opponent Hung Cao.
In his SNL appearance, Kaine poked fun at himself for not being as memorable as vice president candidate Tim Walz despite being a running mate in 2016 with Hillary Clinton. Cao responded by calling Kaine a "human punch line."
"I was barnstorming 12 towns and cities across Virginia yesterday talking about how we're going to secure our border & lower prices, while Tim was being a human punch-line in New York City," Cao said in a statement. "I want to thank NBC & Tim Kaine for making the contrast so clear about the stakes on Tuesday."
Sen. Kaine returned to Virginia in time to make a final campaign stop in Fredericksburg on Monday to encourage his supporters to continue the fight for him and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“A whole lot of Virginians saw that and enjoyed it because most people like folks who can take a joke and laugh at themselves,” Kaine said. “My opponent has basically ignored Virginia and insulted Virginia. He should have been running a campaign talking to Virginians the whole time. Take a look at the number of events that he has done other than go on right-wing radio shows and run his mouth. It’s pitiful ... whereas I’ve done over 220 events.”
Kaine said based on his internal polling, he feels good about the upcoming results. The latest Roanoke College Poll shows Cao is trailing behind Kaine by nine points.
“All indications are that Cao just simply was running at a bad time against an incumbent very well known in Virginia,” Dr. Stephen Farnsworth of University of Mary Washington said.
Still, Cao says the race is tightening and continues to rally since Saturday where he attended an event with former President Donald Trump.
“On Tuesday, when we go out, unlike the left, we’re not going to vote for the hatred of one man,” he said. “We’re going to vote for the love of God, family, and love of country.”
Cao, a veteran and Vietnam refugee, also made an appearance in Lebanon, Virginia on Monday to maintain his push for a better economy and border security.
In an interview with WUSA9’s Simone De Alba, Cao reiterated the same stance.
“You shouldn’t come here if you’re not going to embrace the American laws and culture, because I did,” he said.