You can tell a lot about a candidate by the enemies he makes
June 2nd, 2009
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Jeff Schapiro
Terry McAuliffe, running for the Democratic nomination for governor, wants to run payday lenders out of Virginia.
Not so fast, says the high-cost, instant-loan industry.
The Community Financial Services Association, a trade group for the nation's biggest payday lenders, is using its blog, http://www.paydaypundit.org, to mobilize its troops against McAuliffe.
McAuliffe, in Richmond today for a meet-and-greet with more than 40 staffers and volunteers, hinted that lenders have offered to contribute money to his campaign, but that he's not interested.
"The audacity of these people," said McAuliffe.
McAuliffe wants to give the boot to car-title lenders, too. His beef with the fringe-credit business: That it profits at the expense of the poor and uneducated.
Payday and car-title lenders counter that they're offering a service for which there is a demand, particularly from people who can't get credit.
Virginia has been a battleground for payday lenders for several years. The lenders have been in the state since 2002-when a Democratic governor, Mark Warner, signed legislation approved by a Republican-controlled General Assembly-and this year have been hit by recession and new regulations.
They've combined to drive down the number of money stores in the state by about 20 percent. But lenders are finding a way around the latest restrictions, offering other loans that can be more lucrative because they carry higher fees.
In the Dermocratic primary, McAuliffe has used the issue to lure support from those often seen at payday shops: urban blacks and blue-collar workers.
McAuliffe also reminds voters that his opponents on June 9, Brian Moran and Creigh Deeds, voted to open the state to payday lenders and accepted contributions from them.
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“At meet-and-greets from small-town Leesburg to exurban Manassas to far-south Martinsville, he douses voters in an ebullient rain of proposals… McAuliffe’s ideas may be hard to beat.”
– The New Republic, 2/4/09
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“In the midst of a daunting travel schedule and after releasing truly ambitious business and energy plans for the Commonwealth, he still maintains an energy level that those of us ten years younger would be hard pressed to match.”
– The Loudoun Independent, 4/1/09
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“McAuliffe is rolling out a series of position papers on energy and business that go well beyond the typical two-page brochure full of bromides…his substantive pitches have raised expectations and pointed the way toward a different, more high-toned campaign.”
– Richmond Times-Dispatch, 3/25/09
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“Although many State House insiders were initially skeptical of McAuliffe, he has been running a nearly flawless campaign. Democrats and Republicans are taking him seriously.”
– The Washington Post, 1/22/09
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“Terry McAuliffe can get through to the (rural) culture. Like I said, he’s got a positive attitude. Terry’s also got high name recognition amongst Democrats who will vote in the primary. And McAuliffe is a good name to have out here where I live.”
– Dave “Mudcat” Saunders
Political strategist for Mark Warner and Jim Webb, 3/25/09 -
“Terry McAuliffe continues to impress – rolling out a detailed plan to revive the Virginia economy and picking up labor endorsements, the latest of which came from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.”
– The Washington Post, 4/3/09
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“He brings a kind of energy and visibility and presence that’s just extraordinary.”
– Bob Holsworth, professor at VCU, 2/4/09
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