Richmond, VA – With recent campaign appearances of Hung Cao with a parade of handlers, and yesterday avoiding speaking at the Buena Vista Labor Day Festival, it raises the question: can Hung Cao have campaign events by himself or is his campaign worried Hung Cao will make another bizarre comment if he’s let loose on the campaign trail all alone?

Cao continues to hide behind others because he can’t stand on his own. According to the Augusta Free Press, Cao hasn’t “made it a point to do a lot in terms of campaigning on his own behalf," and that’s likely because Cao continues to get in his own way whenever he opens his mouth. As The Richmond Times-Dispatch's Jeff Schapiro noted, Cao “has a way with words that borders on the Trumpian, choosing — knowingly or not — to insult rather than inform, perhaps ignoring that his numerous rhetorical spitballs are a damning commentary on his candidacy and his character.”

And Hung Cao’s campaign knows that he certainly never does himself any favors any time he speaks by himself. Here’s all of the bizarre things Hung Cao has said (this isn't an exhaustive list, there are certainly more!):  

• Hung Cao said he’s worried about witchcraft in Monterey, California, coming to Virginia.  
• Hung Cao called a Staunton newspaper “podunk.”  
• Hung Cao said it would be “ridonkulous” to drive to Abingdon.  
• Hung Cao compared abortion to the Holocaust.  
• Hung Cao called himself African American because he lived in Africa.  
• Hung Cao said his friends were being investigated for their activities related to the insurrection on January 6th.  
• Hung Cao called NATO employees “lazy” while NATO's North American headquarters is in Norfolk.
• Hung Cao requested that when he is called a white supremacist, he be given a KKK hood with “the little slits and not the circles so I can see better.”

Even Republicans are criticizing how Hung Cao is conducting his campaign. Former Eddie Garcia Campaign Manager said that Cao “continues to run a basement campaign.” And Former Republican Delegate Chris Saxman argues Cao’s conduct telegraphs inexperience, and he is running a message-less campaign. He said, “It’s like a ‘Seinfeld’ campaign. What’s it about? ... It’s about nothing.”

“Cao’s campaign knows that the more Virginians get to know Hung Cao, the less they will like him, which is why they are afraid of having him campaign by himself and speak directly to Virginians,” said DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker.

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