CHARLESTON, W.Va (WSAZ) -- The Republican candidate for West Virginia's governor advanced his campaign Wednesday in Charleston with the help of a powerful political figure.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry came to the Marriott at Charleston Town Center to back the campaign of Bill Maloney.

Both men also furthered their ongoing attack on the current White House administration, which has recently been echoed by West Virginia's Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

"I've said it clearly and many times before -- I disagree with both of the frontrunners for this year's presidential race," Tomblin said.

Instead of taking jabs at each other, the two gubernatorial candidates have been so far focusing their criticism on the federal government, claiming its policies are not in West Virginia's best interests.

"I'm not afraid of Mr. Obama and his administration," Maloney said. "We need to take him on. And it's not just coal. It's oil and natural gas, it's farming... it's everything."

Tomblin said he does not plan on attending this year's Democratic National Convention, out of disappointment for both presidential candidates.