Thank you all so much.

Well, it may not have turned out how we hoped, but it sure has been quite the ride.

About six months ago, I entered the race for Governor because I love this commonwealth. My wife Dorothy and I made the decision 17 years ago to make Virginia our home because this is where we wanted to raise our family.

And as I criss-crossed Virginia over the past six months, my love for this Commonwealth has only grown.

I’ve met so many Virginians of all walks of life who are anxious about our economy, struggling to get by. But their determination and optimism hasn’t waned. They’re ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

That’s why I got in this race. To help Virginians. And I’m so proud of all we’ve accomplished on this campaign.

I learned one big thing over the past couple of years, and during my time as head of the Democratic Party: Tough, hard competition between Democrats only makes us stronger.

Creigh, Brian, we may have argued about who would carry the flag, but we agreed on the goals. We agreed on the values of the Democratic Party. We agreed on the stakes this fall.

We agreed that we need to carry on in the tradition of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to keep Virginia moving in the right direction.

Brian Moran has been a tremendous public servant as a prosecutor and legislator, and I know his days of public service to this great Commonwealth are far from over.

A few minutes ago, I called Creigh Deeds and congratulated him on becoming the Democratic nominee for Governor. And I told him something that I know everyone in this room agrees with.

That he MUST be the next Governor of Virginia, and that I will do everything possible to help make sure he IS the next Governor of Virginia!

Virginia needs Creigh Deeds.

Too many people are struggling today. Unemployment is ravaging too many of our communities. Parents are struggling to send their children to college.

We need a governor who is committed to getting our economy back on track and creating jobs. A governor who understands that we need to invest in the jobs of the future – green jobs, alternative energy jobs. Bob McDonnell will not create those jobs. Creigh Deeds will.

A governor who understands that we need to bring people together if we’re ever going to come up with a solution to our statewide transportation mess. Bob McDonnell will not find that solution. Creigh Deeds will.

We need a governor who has been a partner of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine’s so that he can build upon their great work. Bob McDonnell will not continue that legacy. Creigh Deeds will.

And, as I said repeatedly throughout this campaign, Barack Obama needs a partner in Richmond. Bob McDonnell will not be that partner. Creigh Deeds will.

Bob McDonnell has proven time and again that he is more interested in promoting a partisan ideological agenda than he is in working with people to get results. He voted against Mark Warner’s budget reform. He worked against Tim Kaine’s transportation reform. He helped block $125 million in federal stimulus money – your taxpayer money that is now going to other states. His energy plan can be summed up in three words – drill baby drill.

We’ve seen this approach before. It was called the Gilmore Administration. And I, for one, DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK.

Creigh Deeds wants to keep Virginia moving forward. He understands Virginia. He’s the kind of leader who as a prosecutor, kept his community safe. Who as a legislator has taken on the tough fights while bringing people together to get results. He’s been a key partner for Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. And now, he’s ready to lead us through the tough times ahead.

But Creigh can’t do it alone. That’s why we need to do everything we can to make sure that Jody Wagner is the next Lt. Governor, and Steve Shannon is the next Attorney General of Virginia!

This is the ticket that will keep Virginia moving in the right direction.

This is the ticket that will carry on the traditions of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

This is the ticket that will get our economy moving again.

And they’re going to do it with all of our help!

Finally, let me thank a few people who have been such an inspiration to me throughout this campaign.

Let me begin with the loves of my life – my wife Dorothy who has been by my side for over 20 years, and my five beautiful children Dori, Jack, Mary, Sally and Peter. They’ve put up with a lot over the years, and they are the reason I got into this race. Thank you for being my inspiration and my support.

Next, I want to thank my campaign manager Mike Henry, and the outstanding campaign staff that worked so hard over the past five months. You know, I believe that so many of life’s experiences are defined by the people that you surround yourself with. And, let me say this – this campaign team made this the experience of a lifetime. You’ve been some of the most dedicated campaign workers I’ve ever seen. We may have come up short in terms of votes, but you made me a better candidate, and more importantly, you helped make the Democratic party even stronger going into the fall. And for that, I’ll forever be grateful.

Finally, let me thank the 6,000 volunteers and tens of thousands of people who put in the long hours, made the calls, knocked on doors, and entrusted me with their vote. I am humbled by your support and faith in me. I now ask you to help me finish what we started, and put the same kind of blood, sweat and tears into a victory in November for Creigh Deeds, Jody Wagner, and Steve Shannon.

They’re going to lead us to victory in November, and together, we’ll make sure that Virginia’s best days are ahead of her.

Thank you, and God bless you all.

Posted by: Terry @ 07:40:46 PM
Tags:

We conducted a poll over the last three nights - with 200 interviews a night. We never base decisions on one night's worth of interviews because the sample is too small. But throughout this campaign our night-by-night numbers have been reliable and have picked up trends such as the recent increase in support for Deeds. I am encouraged that last night's interviews have us tied with Deeds.

McAuliffe: 33
Deeds: 33
Moran: 21

While this is not definitive, last night's trend shows this is a competitive race and we need to make sure that every vote counts and we need to make every effort to turn out our voters today.

Mark my words: we can win this thing tonight. There are three key things to take away from our polling research.

First, people want someone who shares their values on gun safety issues. Terry McAuliffe opposes allowing concealed weapons into bars and supports former Governor Doug Wilder's one-gun-per-month law. That message is resonating with this electorate.

Second, people want a candidate who can win. Brian Moran's numbers are flat. He's not within striking distance, and doesn't show any signs of upward movement. If voters want a candidate who can beat Bob McDonnell in November, Terry McAuliffe is the guy to do it.

Third, this race is remarkably fluid, and our field operation is making the difference. We've been polling for three nights, and based on our interviews last night, we're going to close the gap. Public Policy Polling's Tom Jensen noted on Sunday that, "Voter preferences in this election are about as fluid as in any race PPP has ever polled… Usually voter preferences are pretty hardened by 48-72 hours before an election but if there was ever one where that could change this would be it."

It's true that there was serious momentum toward Deeds at the end of last week - and over three days, he has the lead. But we have every indication that voters have moved towards Terry at lightning speed within the last 48 hours, and that's thanks to your work. Staff and volunteers have made a combined 472,801 calls from Saturday through Monday. That doesn't count anything we've already done today.

We've got the momentum. But we need to keep it up. Tell your friends, family and neighbors to get to the polls. And come down to your local field office to make some calls in these final hours.

Click here to find your local field office.

If we keep the pedal to the metal until the polls close at 7 PM tonight, we will win this thing!

Mo Elleithee
Senior Campaign Strategist

Posted by: Mo Elleithee @ 12:36:53 PM
Tags:

We’ve worked for months to get to this point, and now the big day has arrived.

I can’t thank you enough for all that you’ve done. Your work on the campaign trail has been an inspiration. This past weekend, we had volunteers calling voters on their cell phones while they were walking in between houses canvassing. Another woman made calls for 8 hours despite an awful cold – she almost lost her voice – because she was so committed to our campaign and the need for new ideas in Richmond.

Now there’s only one more thing left to do: vote today. The polls will be open until 7:00 PM this evening, so please bring your friends, family and neighbors with you. This could come right down to the wire, so every last vote could make the difference. If you need assistance, call (888)-9VA-2009, and someone will help you.

If you make me your nominee, I’ll wake up every day taking the fight to Bob McDonnell, and I’ll build on the work of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine so we can create the jobs of the future and keep Virginia moving forward.

Best,

Terry

P.S. If you’re in the Arlington area tonight, please join us at the Westin Arlington Gateway, 801 N. Glebe Rd., at 7:15 PM to celebrate a great campaign.

Posted by: Terry @ 08:00:00 AM
Tags:

There are only 4 days until Election Day, and the blogs are buzzing over who looks like the best candidate to win the Democratic primary. Bloggers are praising Terry for being the only candidate to take a bold stance against special interests. More have recently come out with endorsements of Terry, while other supporters have been discussing polls and recent news coverage.

At Blue Virginia, Lowell reported on Terry's recent endorsement from Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, providing a post with commentary and a second post with video of the endorsement event.

A top-notch endorsement for Terry McAuliffe, following Ed Rendell's endorsement earlier today...Chris Cillizza adds that Schweitzer's endorsement "sends a message that not only does Schweitzer think McAuliffe will win next Tuesday's primary (otherwise, why fly in from Montana to stand with a potential loser) but also that McAuliffe represents the best chance for Democrats to keep the seat in the fall election." Nice.

Ben Tribbett shared a video on his blog, Not Larry Sabato, featuring a profile of Terry from the ABC Election Special. The video talks about Terry’s campaign, features a sit-down interview with Terry, and even a comment from Tribbett himself.

Lowell at Blue Virginia reports on the latest SurveyUSA poll this week that shows Terry still in the lead in the Democratic primary.

Another day, yet another poll, this one showing Terry McAuliffe leading by 6 points, 35%-29% over Creigh Deeds, with Brian Moran trailing at 26% (the other 11% remain undecided). Too close for comfort, as far as I'm concerned, but I'd certainly rather be in Terry's position than in Brian's right now (ahead in the poll plus a far better GOTV operation plus advertising superiority leading up to June 9)….Regarding the race against Bob McDonnell, I believe that current polls are not the most helpful (given that McDonnell has a unified Republican Party while the Democrats are still fighting it out)…

At Blue Commonwealth, editor KathyinBlacksburg wrote an endorsement of Terry, believing he will be an extraordinary governor.

Evidence of Terry's energy for Virginia is everywhere. You can see it in the entries to political events awash with bright McAuliffe signs. You can see it in his impressive field operation. You can see it in the bounce of his step, the uplift of his voice and the gusto with which he exclaims about the mundane. Nothing is too trivial to be taken for granted. However, I believe Terry can bring marathon-like energy for the long haul too, the four years he'll have to put Virginia back on track and mover her forward. Terry doesn't do things half-way, but throws himself into whatever he takes on and he'll do likewise for Virginia. …"A force of Nature" is an oft-heard description of Terry…This is not a small "vision" time. It will take much more than the standard small-change efforts and tweaks around the margins to bring our economy back, replenish state coffers, and bring back the morale of voters, including state employees, who always take the brunt of every shortfall or political whim (such as "no car tax"). It is, as Barack Obama likes to say, our moment. But it is a moment of crisis. And that moment requires a "force of nature."

At Blue Commonwealth, Jen Little also wrote a diary endorsing Terry, explaining her tough decision after knowing the other candidates personally.

I don't want to be stuck in the political "box." The "box" that is Richmond politics as usual, and those inside the "box" are content with how things work. I see myself as more of teetering on the "box's" ledge I want more. I want to be inspired. I want to know that there will be an end to the fiscal pinch we are all feeling in local government and our homes. I want to know that if I work hard I will stay employed, have heath insurance, keep my house, and not disrupt my daughter's dreams for the future. I want to know that in some way Virginia belongs to us, and that we can work together to make it a better place to live work and play. That's when I really started to listen to Terry McAuliffe. … Terry McAuliffe is the candidate who fills me with hope and inspiration. At the end of the day, it is about what is best for Virginia, and Terry has the fresh - outside of the Richmond "box" - perspective to bring those big ideas to fruition to benefit all Virginians.

At Daily Kos, alankrishnan wrote a diary discussing why Terry stands out on ethics reform in the gubernatorial race, with his bold pledge against special interests.

With only a week for the Democratic primaries on June 9th, the pace is increasing and every call, every door knocked, and every conversation will make a difference. …I support McAuliffe because he stands head and shoulders above the other candidates. In public life, McAuliffe has a clean record and the allegations against him in his business life have all proved false. He is much maligned by his detractors, and now we should be objective and vote for him. Of the Democratic candidates, McAuliffe has the best record on Ethics Reform. McAuliffe is the first candidate to propose a ban on gifts from lobbyists to Virginia elected officials… McAuliffe pledged not to take contributions from Dominion Power Corporation and its PAC… McAuliffe pledged not to take contributions from payday lending companies - and has stood by the pledge… McAuliffe pledged not to take contributions from any company receiving Federal Bailout Money…

Posted by: Eli @ 12:43:10 PM
Tags: bloggers, blog roundup, blogs, brian schweitzer, economy, ed rendell, endorsement, endorsements, energy, ethics, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, polls, rendell, schweitzer, special interests, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia, weekly blog roundup

Comments [8]

We've got just 4 days to go, and things couldn't be moving quicker. Wednesday night, Politico teamed up with ABC News, Google and YouTube to broadcast a joint-candidate forum on statewide television. We released a new response ad this week, there's been a flurry of new polling, and we're gearing up for the final Get-Out-the-Vote push.

It All Comes Down to GOTV

The Washington Post said it best: "Figuring out which ones will come to the polls and how to reach them could, more than any other factor, determine the victor on election day." That's why we've invested in one of the most sophisticated field operations that a Virginia political race has ever seen. But our ability to put our plan into action depends on you.

We've got 14 offices spread all across the Commonwealth -- and we urgently need your help to make them overflow with volunteers.

For months we've worked to bring new voters into the process and re-engage all those folks who first got involved with President Obama's historic campaign last November. In short, we've identified our voters. But we've got to the hit the phones, knock the doors, and realize the potential to make our voices heard on Election Day.

The best thing you can do is come down to one of our offices, but there are other opportunities to help out - even from your home. So don't waste a minute. Terry's autographed an additional 100 rally signs for the first people to come in and donate their time. If you haven't already signed up to volunteer, please do so immediately.

Click Here to Sign Up to Volunteer.

Candidate Forum

Wednesday night, voters across the Commonwealth tuned in to see a joint-candidate forum sponsored by YouTube, Politico, Google and ABC. And as with all of the joint-appearances, Terry once again demonstrated why he's the candidate with the focus, discipline, and resolve to bring good-paying jobs to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

I've been in Virginia politics for an awfully long time, and one thing I've learned is that governing is prioritizing. There's no time to be all things to all people. You need to know what you want to do, and have a plan to get it done. That's exactly what Terry brings to the table.

No moment from the forum was more telling than when James from Arlington asked the three candidates the one thing they'd like to be remembered for after serving as governor for four years. We've posted that clip on our website, and I wanted to share it with you.

This morning, Terry is receiving the endorsement of Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana. As a popular two-term Governor, Governor Schweitzer knows that Terry has the right experience to get Virginia's economy moving again.

Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post wrote that the endorsement "sends a message that not only does Schweitzer think McAuliffe will win next Tuesday 's primary (otherwise, why fly in from Montana to stand with a potential loser) but also that McAuliffe represents the best chance for Democrats to keep the seat in the fall election."

Polls

A few weeks back, the National Journal's Amy Walter hit the nail on the head when she wrote that, "Any public polling on this race should be taken with a very big grain of salt. After all, no one has any idea just how 'likely' these 'likely voters' will be." But since so many of you have written in asking about one poll or another, I want to make sure you're all aware of the large disparity in the polls that are out there. They're all over the map, but Terry McAuliffe is the only candidate with a lead outside the margin of error in any of the various polls that have been released.

On Tuesday, Public Policy Polling showed the race was a dead heat.

Wednesday, Survey USA gave Terry a significant, 6-point lead over Creigh Deeds, and a 9-point lead over Brian Moran.

The truth is that the only poll that matters is the one this upcoming Tuesday. That's why we're focusing on two things - getting out the vote, and making our closing arguments for why Terry's the candidate best equipped to create jobs and grow Virginia's economy.

New Ads

For weeks, our opponents have hurled personal attacks at Terry in the mail, and on radio and TV. So as we come down the home stretch, we've got a dual focus for our paid media strategy. We released a new response ad that's airing in the Norfolk and Richmond media markets designed to counter the attacks we've seen. And in our final spot, Terry makes his closing argument for why we need big ideas to shake things up in Richmond.

P.S. Terry is holding a primary election night celebration at The Westin Arlington Gateway at 801 N. Glebe Road. If you're in the area, stop by at 7:15pm and celebrate with Terry!

Posted by: Mike @ 09:25:46 AM
Tags: 2009, economic growth, economy, governor, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, tmac, va-gov, vagov, virginia

Comments [1]

WAMU ran this story on Terry's grassroots campaign and bold ideas to get Virginia's economy moving again.

Posted by: Eli @ 09:14:54 AM
Tags: 2009, economic growth, economy, governor, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, radio, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, tmac, va-gov, vagov, wamu

Comments [1]

Just like Terry and all of our supporters, the blogosphere is gearing up for Election Day. This week bloggers have been talking about which candidates are looking good in the polls, Terry's latest endorsements, and events leading up to the final week. We're just as excited as bloggers are for the upcoming primary election, which is why we all agree we need to put every ounce of that energy into getting out the vote.

Terry has received numerous endorsements this week, including former Lieutenant Governor Candidate Jon Bowerbank and prominent Virginia blogger Ben Tribbett. Ben explains his reasons for endorsing Terry at his blog, Not Larry Sabato.

This hasn't been an easy choice… But after a lot of thought, I'm going to support Terry McAuliffe for Governor. A few reasons: The national media has been salivating over this race since Terry got into it waiting for a gaffe that they could jump on and blow up. It hasn't happened, because Terry has researched the issues, learned local politics in every corner of the Commonwealth and surrounded himself with a first rate campaign team. I think that indicates that Terry is ready for the General Election... He can take on the toughest fights- and drive the General Assembly to solutions. …we need a Governor to shake things up in Richmond. Terry is the right man at this time to do so… More importantly, Terry is giving people a little bit of that hope we got in 2008 and that kind of optimistic attitude can do everyone a lot of good right now.

Other bloggers are also enthusiastically supporting Terry, including the most recent endorsement from the blog X Curmudgeon.

In the end we had to go with the man we thought would run the best campaign. Of the three Democratic candidates, we think McAuliffe will do the best job running against McDonnell. ...More importantly, however, McAuliffe has run a clean, upbeat, well-oiled campaign. ...Equally important--and a question mark for us at the beginning of the campaign--T.M. has shown a good deal of substance on the campaign trail. We don't think he'd just be an empty suit in the Governor's Mansion if elected. ...Three-four months ago, we couldn't have seen ourselves endorsing Terry McAuliffe. But come November, we're going to need his energy, the money he can raise, and the enthusiasm he can generate.

At Blue Virginia, Lowell reported on Terry’s glowing endorsement from the Richmond Free Press, Virginia’s leading African-American newspaper.

Great news for Terry McAuliffe, as (already strong) African American support for his candidacy appears to be gaining momentum as we get closer to election day (in addition, there was the Richmond Crusade for Voters' endorsement of Terry several days ago). …The Free Press writes that in order to "keep up the Virginia momentum for President Obama's audacious program of hope and change...we must elect the strongest Democratic candidate with the ability to defeat the Republican candidate in the Nov. 3 General Election."

In a diary at Daily Kos, Alankrishnan wrote about President Clinton campaigning with Terry in Herndon and Annandale a couple weeks ago.

President Clinton referred to McAuliffe as his best friend and made it very clear that his support of McAuliffe in this race was not just because of friendship but because of McAuliffe being best qualified to be the next Governor of Virginia. …McAuliffe made a fiery speech calling for unity and working together for the growth and success of Virginia… He thanked all his supporters for the confidence and support in the race and promised he will continue to work very hard to protect the jobs of every one in Virginia …He concluded by exhorting every one to unite under one sign after June 9th, no matter what sign they carried now….I walked around and spoke with several in the audience. Among those I met is a seasoned Obama campaign volunteer in Herndon who is totally convinced that McAuliffe is our best candidate to be the next Governor of Virginia. She is putting together a team of volunteers to help make this campaign.

He also provided video of the event in Herndon:

Posted by: Eli @ 02:06:01 PM
Tags: ben tribbett, bill clinton, bloggers, blogs, clinton, endorsements, jon bowerbank, macker, mcauliffe, polls, richmond free press, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia, weekly blog roundup

Comments [1]

There are two excellent stories out today - an endorsement from the state's leading African-American newspaper, the Richmond Free Press, and a great profile of Terry in The Washington Post. I'm not going to do much writing in this email; the articles speak for themselves. As the RFP wrote, "We see Terry McAuliffe as the one who can win, keep up the momentum for hope and change and continue the tradition of smart, fair-minded resourceful leadership best exemplified by President Obama."

Check it out:

In considering our endorsement for governor in the June 9 Democratic primary, our foremost objective is this: To keep up the Virginia momentum for President Obama's audacious program of hope and change. In order to achieve that goal, we believe we must elect the strongest Democratic candidate with the ability to defeat the Republican candidate in the Nov. 3 General Election.

. . .

We have met with all three Democratic candidates. We asked them all important questions related to keeping up the Obama momentum for a better Virginia free of racism and economic exploitation.

In interviews with Sen. Deeds and former Delegate Moran, we sensed a degree of discomfort in some of their answers-particularly the one related to what they would do to correct Virginia's disgraceful procurement record, which shows the commonwealth spends less than 1 percent of taxpayers' dollars on black owned businesses. Further, they gave us no solid impression that they were inclined to work necessarily hard to win the Democratic Party's most loyal constituency.

Our reaction to this disposition: If a candidate is not responsive when he is seeking your support, what kind of attention can you expect from that candidate if he is elected?

In our interview with Terry McAuliffe, we got a totally different impression. He welcomed questions-and seemingly, the harder the better. "I'm going to shake up Virginia" for what's right for all people, he passionately vowed. Further, he demonstrated his concern for the black community, showing up at events in our community as he did in other communities-and following up to assure that he means what he says.

We also were impressed with Mr. McAuliffe's overwhelming passion for his winning in the interest of the people in November. We admire Mr. McAuliffe's passion for doing the right thing. As a matter of fact, we see passion, along with a sound program, as a vital ingredient for accomplishing a mission.

We think Mr. McAuliffe is the best candidate in the Democratic primary. We see Terry McAuliffe as the one who can win, keep up the momentum for hope and change and continue the tradition of the smart, fair-minded, resourceful leadership best exemplified by President Obama.

Click Here to Read the Full Article.

Additionally, The Washington Post profile comes awfully close to capturing the energy and enthusiasm Terry brings to the campaign trail, noting that "In his personal and professional life, McAuliffe has always talked louder, moved quicker and thought bigger than most of his peers."

"Maybe it's my prejudice from being from Southwest Virginia, but I start out saying I'm for Deeds," said Richard Young, 68, a Roanoke native.

Young said this while standing outside his Arlington house, watching McAuliffe work on his roof. As part of his campaign, McAuliffe has toiled at jobs ranging from waiter to firefighter, and on that day, he decided to join a crew that was working on Young's solar heating system.

McAuliffe said Young should get state tax credits, in addition to federal ones, for his "green" efforts. He then did something Young hadn't expected: He worked. He went from the roof to the basement and stayed about three hours, long enough to make Young question his vote.

The other two candidates "deserve it more," Young said a few days later, but "McAuliffe has the potential to do a lot more."

"He came and he really stayed," Young added. "It wasn't just a photo op. That surprised me."

Click Here to Read the Full Article.

Thanks so much for all your hard work.

P.S. We have just 12 days more to go until the election on June 9th, and we really need more volunteers to help us get out the vote. The best thing you can do is come down to one of our 14 campaign offices across the Commonwealth, but there are opportunities to help out even from your home. Terry's even going to autograph rally signs for the first 200 people to sign up and volunteer their time, so please don't wait. Click here to sign up to volunteer right now!

Posted by: Mike @ 11:33:58 AM
Tags: endorsements, grassroots support, macker, mcauliffe, obama, richmond free press, support, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia, volunteer, washington post

Comments [3]

I've got some great news, and it's all thanks to your hard work. Some new polling shows we've got the lead, and today we're releasing a new TV ad to help keep our momentum going. But with just two weeks to go until Election Day, our opponents are ratcheting up the attacks, and we're counting on your help to pull us over the finish line.

Boots on the Ground

Turnout will be the deciding factor in this election, and we need your help. Since the beginning of this campaign, we've succeeded in bringing new people into our political process because people like you have been pounding the pavement -- knocking doors, making phone calls, and empowering voters to make their voices heard. Just yesterday the Associated Press noted that, "Political observers suggest a low primary turnout would benefit Moran or Deeds, while a larger turnout would help McAuliffe, who is trying to attract new voters as Obama did."

But the Moran campaign thinks our strategy is all for nothing. After going around for months claiming that the grassroots was the key to victory, the Washington Post reported this morning that Moran's strategists "view that kind of operation as a waste of resources on voters unlikely to come out for a June primary."

That's right -- the Moran campaign is taking a shot at you and all the hard work you've been doing for months. This is our chance to prove them wrong. We've got the infrastructure -- 14 field offices across the Commonwealth, and 50 of the best field organizers in politics. But we need your help to power the operation - making phone calls and knocking on doors so we can get our voters to the polls. And if you're one of the first 200 people to sign up and volunteer your time between now and the election, we'll give you a rally sign autographed by Terry McAuliffe.

The single most important thing you can do to help this effort is to come into one of our offices. But there are other opportunities to get involved too - even from your home.

Click Here to Volunteer and Get an Autographed Rally Sign.

Polls, Polls, Polls

Three new polls came out at the end of last week, and they all show us with a very solid lead. DailyKos founder and best-selling author Markos Moulitsas observed that "McAuliffe has managed to move his favorability numbers forward despite an increasingly negative primary." As voters take a tough look at each of the candidates, Terry's vision for growing the economy and creating jobs is clearly resonating.

But we've still got a lot of work to do. Public Policy Polling's Dean Debnam says, "This race is still really up for grabs…There are still lots of undecideds and lots of voters open to changing their minds."

That's why we need your help now more than ever. The attacks on Terry have already started, and you ain't seen nothing yet. VCU Professor Bob Holsworth noted that, "With McAuliffe ahead in all of the public polls, attempting to bring him down has become a matter of some urgency to the other campaigns." And Brian Moran's chief strategist has pledged to do precisely that.

Terry's taken a different approach. He's sticking to the issues, staying positive, and saving his criticism for Bob McDonnell. But in order for that strategy to work, we need your help.

New TV Ad

Today, we're also unveiling our newest television ad - a 30 second spot that focuses on the importance of investing in early childhood education. I wanted to make sure you see it first.

Thanks to you, I couldn't be more proud of the campaign we're running. But right now we're getting attacked from all sides. Both of our opponents are on the air, and we need the resources to respond to their attacks, communicate Terry's positive message of job creation, and bring our people to the polls.

Click here to make a contribution to fully fund our efforts to reach voters and respond to attacks. There are only two weeks left!

Let's keep the pedal to the metal until Election Day on June 9th.

P.S. If you're not going to able to make it to the polls on June 9th, make sure to cast an absentee ballot. Click here to get more information.

Posted by: Mike @ 01:22:25 PM
Tags: ads, brian moran, education, grassroots, macker, mcauliffe, moran, organization, polling, polls, supporters, t-mac, teachers, terry, terry mcauliffe, tv ad, va-gov, virginia

Comments [1]

With 18 days until the primary, bloggers this week analyzed the recent events impacting the gubernatorial race, including celebrity rallies and endorsements, debates, campaign attacks, issues and polls.

At Blue Commonwealth, aznew provided a balanced look at the last Democratic gubernatorial debate, with some positive and negative reactions to each of the candidates.

My first impression at the debate was that Terry McAuliffe won. In the hall, at least, Creigh seemed a little flat and Moran seemed, well, lost in the sense that with three weeks left to go in a campaign that he has been waging for three years, he still hasn't seemed to find a consistent voice or message... First, let me cite the one winning McAuliffe moment that stood out as the debate's highlight. When it came time for his question, Creigh asked McAuliffe how he could promise so much to so many - building a gym, paying teachers mortgages, etc., when he knows budgets will be tight. The question was intended to put McAuliffe on the spot for pandering and over-promising. Before he was halfway done asking it, however, it was clear to everyone - even Creigh, I think -- that he'd made a mistake. McAuliffe thanked Creigh for the question, and took the opportunity to talk about his big ideas, about reaching for the stars. "Do you want me to get out of bed and say I'm gonna be 50th?" he said. "NO. You shoot for the moon. John Kennedy didn't say we're taking the rocket halfway to the moon, It goes all the way to the moon."

Ben of Not Larry Sabato was tweeting from the debate, and concluded with:

Decisive win for @terry_mcauliffe in this debate.

Bob Holsworth at Virginia Tomorrow discusses Terry’s positive campaign and ideas, and questions why Democrats would criticize a campaign of hope after last year’s success.

McAuliffe has portrayed himself as an outsider who wants to bring “big ideas” to Virginia and shake up the political system….Nationally, the Democratic Party has fared very well because it is the party of hope and not the party of no. Wasn’t Bill Clinton the boy from Hope (Arkansas, that is)? And wasn’t Hope Obama’s real middle name? In a tough campaign, I expect that that candidates will use every weapon in their arsenal and it is no secret that both Moran and Deeds think that McAuliffe had no business becoming a statewide candidate in Virginia. But, as a party, I think the Democrats have to ensure that in trying to defeat McAuliffe, they don’t also run down the major rhetorical advantage they’ve had over the GOP in the last few years. The Democrats have to be careful that, whatevever the outcome of the primary, they don’t turn Virginia into the kind of place where hope goes to die.

At Blue Virginia, Lowell reports on Terry’s conference call with Liberty University students who recently had their rights to meet as a Democratic group revoked by school officials.

Liberty University has revoked its recognition of the campus Democratic Party club, saying “we are unable to lend support to a club whose parent organization stands against the moral principles held by” the university….Meanwhile, I got an email from the McAuliffe campaign saying that Terry "will hold a conference call with Liberty University Democrats" this morning. The McAuliffe campaign email adds, "Liberty University Democrats have campaigned for McAuliffe across the Commonwealth in recent weeks, and were active advocates for Obama in the 2008 presidential election."

Multiple polls this week have shown Terry in the lead in the Democratic primary race, and while the only poll that really counts is the one on election day, the blogs are buzzing. At Blue Commonwealth, kyleblankenship reported on the Survey USA poll, while at Blue Virginia Lowell added some commentary.

The bottom line is that Terry's gaining ground in the general election as we get closer to June 9 and the number of undecideds shrinks.

In a Research 2000 poll at Daily Kos, McAuliffe also holds the lead, and Kos provided some analysis.

A pretty dramatic gain for McAuliffe in the last six weeks for an election that will be decided in about three weeks (June 9), while Deeds and Moran essentially tread water. …while Moran has remained steady and while Deeds has edged back, McAuliffe has managed to move his favorability numbers forward despite an increasingly negative primary.

Laura Clawson wrote a diary at Daily Kos reflecting on her experience at the will.i.am event in Arlington on May 11th and analyzing the impact of celebrities joining the campaign trail.

This is one of the reasons it's silly when people sneer at celebrities campaigning for politicians. The biggest reason, of course, is this: If you have strong political beliefs, or support a politician strongly, you should do whatever you can to support them. Maybe it's knocking on doors, maybe it's drawing a couple hundred people and some extra press to a campaign event. …if a campaign gets people out to an event who might not go, and they hear a campaign speech they wouldn't hear, and maybe they give the campaign their information and get a few election-day text messages reminding them to vote, maybe that makes a difference. At any rate it's not hurting our democracy for people to see that rich and famous people think politics can matter.

Posted by: Eli @ 02:16:17 PM
Tags: bloggers, blogs, debates, economy, endorsements, hope, liberty university, macker, mcauliffe, obama, polls, roundup, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia, weekly blog roundup, will.i.am

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