Virginia Democratic Leaders Endorse Terry McAuliffe

The McAuliffe for Governor campaign today released a list of Democratic leaders from across the Commonwealth who have endorsed Terry McAuliffe. Today's announcement follows the Virginia Professional Fire Fighter's endorsement yesterday in Richmond.

In discussing their endorsement, Democratic leaders cited his strong executive business credentials and his vision for turning Virginia's economy around. They also expressed their belief that McAuliffe is best qualified to carry on the Warner-Kaine tradition of leadership and has the best chance of beating Bob McDonnell in the fall.

"We Democrats have made such incredible gains over the past seven years, specifically because we have stayed focused on delivering results for Virginians," said Jim Turpin, Vice Chair-Finance of the Virginia Democratic Party. "Terry is the candidate in this race who is best qualified to get Virginia's economy back on track, and that's the result voters are looking for. We can't afford to risk putting someone in the Governor's office who doesn't have the right experience to get our economy moving again and that's why I'm supporting Terry."

"If we're going to keep Virginia moving forward, our next governor needs to be able to build on the progress of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, and Terry McAuliffe is the man for the job," said EJ Scott, Chair of Manassas/ Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee. "Terry has the right experience to lead our commonwealth, create jobs, and take us in the right direction on renewable energy, education, and health care. He knows that in these tough economic times, we can't raise taxes and we can't keep cutting the budget, so we have to grow the economy. Like Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, he knows how to work across party lines, and he knows that not all good ideas come from Richmond. That's the kind of leadership we need."

"There is so much at stake in this election," said Gena Doyle, Chair of the Salem Democratic Committee. "Bob McDonnell has the wrong priorities for Virginia. He would turn back the progress that Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have made over the last seven years, and the Republican National Committee is going to be right there behind him. Terry has my support because he is the best candidate to beat Bob McDonnell and help us win back the House of Delegates."

A full list of the leaders endorsing today follows:

Dr. Ella Ward - Chair, Chesapeake Dem. Committee
Eileen Huey - Vice Chair, Chesapeake Dem. Committee
Arthur Bredemeyer - Chair, Suffolk Dem. Committee
Jim Turpin - Vice Chair-Finance, Dem. Central Committee
Carrie Nixon - Co-Chair, Providence Dem. Committe
Anne Rawley - Activist Member, Chesapeake Dem. Committee
EJ Scott - Chair, Manassas Dem. Committee
Bruce Neilson - Treasurer, Fairfax County Dem. Committee
Gena Doyle - Chair, Salem Dem. Committee
Tom Bellanca - Dulles District Chair, Loudoun County Dem. Committee
Ricardo Cabellos-Reyes - Mercer Precinct Captain (Loudoun)
Keyanna Conner - Young Dem. Activist
Jonathan Ward - Young Dem. Activist

Tags: 2009, democratic central committee, democratic party, dems, economic, economy, endorsements, governor, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia, young democrats

Joseph Stanley of Richmond asks about supporting candidates up and down the ballot

Joseph’s Question: Would you be willing to campaign for down-ticket candidates, particularly in the House of Delegates, if you do not get the primary nomination? I think many potential supporters are concerned that you have not been involved with state politics, and are attempting to “buy” the race. Funding progressive state politicians, especially in the last election before redistricting, would do much to satiate any criticism if you run again in 2013, or for any congressional offices before that.

Joseph, that’s the easiest question I’ll ever get on this site! Yes, yes, yes. I’ve been campaigning for Democrats and helping their campaigns for 30 years, and I’m not going to stop in the foreseeable future. I’ll be there for House of Delegates candidates whether I win or lose the primary – or decide not to run at all. I’ll also be there for our statewide candidates.

I’m not thinking about any future elections – I’m focused on 2009, and deciding if it’s the right thing for me, my family, and Virginia for me to run for Governor. And when I help other candidates, it will be for the same reason I’ve always done it: Democrats do more to move us forward, solve problems, and improve people’s lives than anyone else.

Tags: democratic party, house of delegates, richmond, terry mcauliffe

WCAV TV Report from the Virginia Democratic State Steering Committee Meeting

Tags: democratic party, videos, wcav

VIDEO: Democrats Plan to Keep Momentum in 2009 Elections

Liz Palka, Channel 9 WCAV, Charlottesville

The Virginia Democrats plan on discussing the progress they’ve made in the state, as well as where the party goes from here. They say a major part of that plan is keeping their momentum for next year’s elections.

“Better ideas, better candidates and better organization. I think that has been our route to success in the past and I think that will be our secret to success in the future,” said Dick Cranwell, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia.

That’s how the Democratic Party of Virginia plans on extending the gains they made against Republicans in recent elections to next year’s Governor’s race.

“This is A.) a little celebration about the great elections we had. But, really to strategize on what we want to do in 2009 in the big election we have coming up,” said Terry McAuliffe, former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and potential candidate for Governor.

At the Democratic Steering Committee meeting tonight, Chairman Dick Cranwell said he is elated about the Democratic candidates for Governor in the Commonwealth..

“We apparently have three very talented candidates. My cup runneth over. I think that we will have a very spirited debate for the Democratic nomination which I think will be good for the people over Virginia and good for the Democratic Party.

Some of those candidates and potential candidates, including Terry McAuliffe, were present at tonight’s meeting and more will be at tomorrow’s Central Committee meeting.

“I care very much about continuing to make Virginia the best managed state we’ve been that for the past two Governor cycles and we intend it to stay that way,” said Jody Wagner, who is a candidate for Lt. Governor.

“What’s going to be very important now with President Obama going into office we have to deliver. We got to deliver the jobs and the transportation. So I think for the Democrats we control it all we own it now. Now it is incumbent upon us to make sure we’re fighting for folks every single day,” said McAuliffe.

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe has not made his final decision on whether or not he will run for Governor in Virginia. The plans on announcing his decision on January 7th, 2009.

The Democrats will continue their meetings tomorrow at the Double Tree Hotel in Albemarle County. The Republicans also met earlier this week to discuss their strategy for upcoming elections.

Tags: barack obama, charlottesville, cranwell, democratic party, jody wagner, terry mcauliffe

Moran, McAuliffe trade barbs

“Moran, McAuliffe trade barbs” can also be read at AugustaFreePress.com.

Chris Graham, Augusta Free Press

Today marks the unofficial-official beginning of the ‘09 Democratic Party gubernatorial campaign season. I say that because we’re right now in the midst of the first full-blown public spat of the runup to next spring, involving the campaigns of Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe.

The Moran campaign got things going earlier today with an e-mail to its press list entitled “Virginians Respond to McAuliffe Candidacy” that listed quotes from columns and editorials critical of McAuliffe, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee and top advisor to the presidential campaign of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. Among the critics: ubiquitous University of Virginia political-science professor Larry Sabato, Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist Jeff Schapiro and, curiously, our local News Virginian, an ultraright Republican newspaper that would have a hard time endorsing a sunny day if a Democrat was the first to see it and point it out.

Not to be outdone, the McAuliffe campaign, such as it is, given that McAuliffe hasn’t yet formally announced his candidacy, fought back by declaring that very point. “Brian Moran and his campaign have been spending a curiously large amount of time focused on someone who’s not even a declared candidate for governor yet, and their tone has been surprisingly negative,” senior advisor Mo Elleithee said in a statement sent out this afternoon.

I’m scoring Round One of this sure-to-be months-long exchange to McAuliffe for what else Elleithee had to say. “Terry McAuliffe is focused on having a conversation with and listening to what Virginians have to say as he decides whether or not to run for Governor. He is saving his criticism for Bob McDonnell, not great Democrats like Brian Moran and Creigh Deeds. We hope that both of them and their campaigns follow the same approach. We are all members of a unified party that accomplished great things in 2008 by advocating a positive and hopeful message. Virginians have made clear that unity and positivity is what they want, and it is the only way we’ll win in 2009,” the spokesman said.

For the record, the Deeds campaign has yet to weigh in on this tete-a-tete.

Another for the record: We’re working out the details of bringing Terry McAuliffe to Waynesboro on Monday for a conversation with local area voters about next year’s governor’s race.

Yet another for the record: We’ve already had Brian Moran over for a get-together, and he brought food with him. Hint, hint …

Tags: augusta free press, brian moran, creigh deeds, democratic party, terry mcauliffe