Two well-known military veterans will join retired Navy commander Eric Massa (D) at a rally Sunday for Massa’s campaign to oust Rep. Randy Kuhl (R).

Former Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.) and retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste will headline a veterans for Massa rally in Canandaigua on Sunday afternoon.

Cleland was upset by now-Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) in his bid for a second term six years ago; Batiste helped plan the early stages of the Iraq War but later became a critic of the war and President Bush’s foreign policy.

Three recent independent polls have put Massa ahead of the two-term incumbent in their rematch from two years ago. Kuhl beat Massa by 2 points last time.

The 29th district, which covers the Southern Tier and parts of the Rochester region, has gone Republican in recent presidential elections, but the latest polls give Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) a slight lead in this year’s White House contest.