Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, the Democratic nominee in the commonwealth's gubernatorial race, hit back Thursday against tweeted criticism from President Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE.

Trump is backing Republican Ed Gillespie in the off-year race, and on Thursday he said Northam will be “weak on crime” and “doesn’t even show up to meetings/work.”

“Don’t talk to me about showing up,” Northam responded.

I served 8 years in the Army, took care of sick kids, and am running to build a more inclusive Virginia. Don't talk to me about showing up. https://t.co/jzDx9bS6mh — Ralph Northam (@RalphNortham) October 26, 2017

A subsequent tweet knocked the president directly, including a video showing Northam, a physician, working at a remote-area medical clinic.

While I was treating patients at the RAM clinic, Donald Trump was golfing in Sterling.



You tell me who doesn't show up for Virginians. pic.twitter.com/BOPxaveOUI — Ralph Northam (@RalphNortham) October 26, 2017

A separate tweet from the president said Gillespie will turn the Virginia economy around and “might even save our great statues/heritage!”

Ed Gillespie will turn the really bad Virginia economy #'s around, and fast. Strong on crime, he might even save our great statues/heritage! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 26, 2017

ADVERTISEMENT

Both campaigns have been using the controversy over Confederate statues against the other. Gillespie supports keeping the statues up in the name of history, and Northam this week defended a mailer linking Trump and Gillespie to the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in August.

Trump has not hit the campaign trail in support of Gillespie, but Vice President Pence stumped for the former Republican National Committee chairman earlier this month.

A Hampton University Center for Public Policy poll released Wednesday showed Gillespie leading Northam by 8 points among likely voters. That poll broke from most others, which show Northam leading.