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Giuliani campaigns for Romney in Va. Beach

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani told veterans in Virginia Beach on Thursday that President Barack Obama would destroy the region’s job base through defense spending cuts if he’s elected to a second term.

“He has your region of the country right in his crosshairs. I mean he can do more damage to you than he does to most of the rest of America if we should make the mistake of re-electing him because the cuts he has in mind for our military are devastating,” Giuliani said at a rally for Republican Mitt Romney at a Veterans of Foreign Wars post near Naval Air Station Oceana, one of the largest employers in Hampton Roads.

“They’re going to cost you – you the people of this area of Virginia – thousands and thousands of jobs,” Giuliani said.

The Hampton Roads area is home to a large military presence that includes the world’s largest naval base and its economy is heavily dependent on defense spending. Giuliani also brought up the prospect of base closures, which he said would affect Virginia and California the most. In contrast, Giuliani touted Romney’s plan to build more Navy ships, among other things.

Giuliani’s visit comes a day before President Barack Obama makes campaign stops in Virginia Beach, Hampton and Roanoke. Obama is expected to focus on the economy during his stops.

On Friday Giuliani will headline the grand opening of a Henrico County GOP headquarters with Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling.

Obama will also make other stops in Virginia on Saturday. Obama kicked off his re-election campaign in Richmond in May.