Freshman Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello will get a high-profile campaign boost on Friday when President Barack Obama travels to Charlottesville to rally support for the Virginia Congressman.

Perriello, who has unabashedly defended his votes for some of the Democrats’ big-ticket items, such as the economic stimulus package, health care, and cap-and-trade, is locked in a tough re-election bid against State Sen. Robert Hurt. The most recent poll shows Hurt leading by 6 percentage points.