LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) Tea Party hero Rand Paul warned scientific advancements could lead to eugenics during a Monday visit at Liberty University, looking to boost the political fortunes of fellow Republican Ken Cuccinellis bid for governor.

During a visit to the Christian school founded by Jerry Falwell, Paul looked to energize conservative supporters by warning that genetic tests could identify those who are predisposed to be short, overweight or less intelligent so that they could be eliminated. With one week remaining before Election Day, Cuccinelli is hoping the joint appearance with the U.S. senator from Kentucky will encourage the far-right flank of his party to abandon third-party libertarian spoiler Robert Sarvis.

In your lifetime, much of your potential - or lack thereof - can be known simply by swabbing the inside of your cheek, Paul said to a packed sporting arena on Libertys campus. Are we prepared to select out the imperfect among us?

Some states ran eugenics programs that sterilized those considered defective in the 1900s, though all were abandoned by the 1970s after scientists discredited the idea.

Campaigning later in the day on Virginia Techs campus, Democrat Terry McAuliffe renewed criticism of Cuccinelli as a candidate who doesnt believe in science and sought to remind voters that Cuccinelli unsuccessfully sued a University of Virginia researcher under the states anti-fraud law.

He doesnt believe in climate science, McAuliffe said. So Cuccinelli, a skeptic of climate change, went on what McAuliffe called a witch hunt against Michael Mann, McAuliffe said.

The University of Virginia, a public school, spent $600,000 to defend itself. The state Supreme Court dismissed Cuccinellis complaint.

We cannot grow Virginias economy by suing scientists, McAuliffe added.

Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton said genetics is helping doctors identify individuals at greater risk for illness and advising them to get tested earlier. Clinton, a McAuliffe pal who is campaigning with him, said the science is saving lives, not costing them.

We are now learning things that will help us deal with Alzheimers and various kinds of cancers. Weve already identified the genetic markers that are high predictors of breast cancers, said Clinton, who as president announced the first map of the human genome.

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Rand Paul: Eugenics possible with today’s technology