Romney works to put Virginia in his win column

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Mitt Romney is back in tightly contested Virginia, where he's trying to deny President Barack Obama another victory in a state that typically goes for Republican presidential nominees.

Virginia Beach was his first stop Saturday, and he took on Obama over looming military cuts that are the result of a budget deal between the White House and congressional leaders.

Internal campaign polls show the race is deadlocked in Virginia, which is seen as a must-have state for Romney on the way to winning the 270 electoral votes for the presidency.

The state's white, working-class voters provide hope. Romney outpolls Obama by more than 20 percentage points among these voters, who are pro-military, often rural and socially conservative.

Romney's next stop was the NASCAR race Saturday evening in Richmond.