McAuliffe for Governor (Richmond Voice)

Richmond Voice
June 3, 2009

Virginia's next governor should be able to truthfully tell Virginians that he is doing everything he can to help them navigate these troubled economic waters.

Only three of the four men running to be governor can be trusted to tell the truth on the issue. They include State Sen. Creigh Deeds, former Del. Brian Moran and former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe. All three are Democrats whose final face off for the governorship will take place during Tuesday's Democratic primary. The victor will go on to face the Republican nominee for governor, former Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell.

The VOICE editorial team met with Sen. Deeds and McAuliffe recently, and we like both their plans for bringing jobs for Virginia, focusing on green economy and energy renewability, sprucing up Virginia's education system and public transportation as well as ensuring that our teachers have incentives to stay put, among other things.

While we believe that all three Democratic candidates will do a better job than McDonnell, we are confident that McAuliffe is the strongest candidate to beat McDonnell in November. In addition, we know that he will continue laying the groundwork for sensible spending and fairness that fellow Democrats, Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, have laid in Virginia over the last eight years.

Job creation is the biggest issue of this time and McAuliffe's campaign, highlighting his background as a successful businessman, has framed it shrewdly from the outset. "I started my first business at 14," says McAuliffe in one of the many ads his campaign has aired since he entered the race in January.

His approach of mixing politics and business may rub some the wrong way, but it makes him a stronger candidate who understands how to use the numerous connections he has to move forward. We are all opportunistic in one way or another and there's nothing wrong with electing an opportunist who can help Virginia continue to move forward.

We like McAuliffe's conviction that once a Virginian has served his/her imposed time of prison/probation/parole or jail he/she should automatically regain lost voting rights.

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McAuliffe...give[s] us the best opportunity to defeat McDonnell...who [is] stuck in the extreme right of the Republican Party, which continues to alienate millions of moderate Americans with its divisive ideology.

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It is our hope that on June 10, all Democrats will come together and work in concert to defeat the Republican ticket.

Tags: endorsement, endorsements, macker, mcauliffe, richmond, richmond voice, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

McAuliffe Campaign Releases New Ad Highlighting Business Plan and Big Ideas

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released a new television advertisement highlighting some of the main tenets of his business plan and his commitment to big ideas for Virginia's future.

"With Virginia families hurting, we need new ideas in Richmond. As Governor, I'll make Virginia a leader in renewable energy and create good jobs," McAuliffe says in the ad. "Some are afraid to think big, but President Kennedy didn't say we're going half way to the moon, he said we're going all the way. On June 9th I'd be honored to have your vote because are challenges our too big to think small."

The ad "Moon" will run on stations in the Tri-Cities, Richmond, Roanoke and Norfolk media markets. This is the campaign's 7th ad. It can be viewed here: http://www.terrymcauliffe.com/articles/moon.

Tags: business, business plan, ideas, macker, mcauliffe, norfolk, richmond, roanoke, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

McAuliffe Campaign Releases New Radio Ad Featuring President Clinton

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released a new radio ad highlighting his experience and widespread support from Virginia organizations and Democratic leaders, including President Bill Clinton.

"It makes a difference who the Governor is. It makes a difference what the policies are and I am telling you Terry McAuliffe was made for this moment in history," President Clinton says in the ad. "He's got more energy than anybody I've ever met, he's relentlessly positive and he really cares about people like you.

The radio ad will run on adult urban contemporary, gospel, and religious radio stations in the Norfolk and Richmond media markets. It was produced by Potomac Waves, a minority-owned and operated media consulting firm based in Washington, DC.

The ad can be heard here.

Tags: ads, bill clinton, clinton, democratic leaders, democrats, macker, mcauliffe, norfolk, president clinton, radio ad, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

McAuliffe Campaign Releases New Radio Ad Featuring will.i.am

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released a new radio ad highlighting his support from Grammy award winning hip-hop artist and Democratic activist will.i.am. McAuliffe and will.i.am have known each other since 2004 and have worked together on many Democratic efforts.

"If you know Terry then you know how contagious his energy is, so when he asked me to join him and the Democratic party to reach out to young people, I didn't have to think twice," will.i.am says in the ad.

"Terry gets that families are struggling, that it's tough to pay for college and find a job. That's why his plan will help create thousands of jobs here in Virginia. Now I'm asking you to step up, get out and vote for terry McAuliffe on June 9th. Believe me, I know he's gonna bring the energy and I know your vote for Terry will bring the change we need to Richmond."

The ad "Step Up" will run on stations in the Richmond, and Norfolk media markets. It can be heard here.

Tags: ads, democrats, macker, mcauliffe, radio, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia, will.i.am

Crusade backs McAuliffe

Richmond Free Press
By Jeremy M. Lazarus
May 21, 2009

Terry McAuliffe has gained the backing of the Richmond Crusade for Voters for his bid to win the Democratic nomination for governor in the upcoming June 9 primary election.

The city’s oldest and largest organized political group Tuesday night endorsed Mr. McAuliffe, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He won over his two rivals in the primary, Bath County state Sen. Creigh Deeds and former Alexandria Delegate Brian J. Moran.

Jeff Bourne, a Richmond attorney who chairs the Crusade’s research committee, announced the results after 80 members voted by secret ballot at the Letter Carriers Union building on Chamberlayne Avenue. The committee itself did not issue a recommendation to the membership in this race.

The Crusade’s support for Mr. McAuliffe, who has campaigned heavily in black communities across the state, runs counter to the views of most of the elected officials who were in attendance and voted. They include Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Delegate Joe Morrisey, who support Mr. Moran, and state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III and Delegate Delores L. McQuinn, who are backing Mr. Deeds. Other Deeds supporters present included City Council Vice President Ellen F. Robertson and Councilwoman Reva F. Trammell.

In a statement to the Free Press on Wednesday, Sen. Marsh, a 50-year Crusade member, alleged the endorsement process was tarnished “by irregularities.” He stated that people who had not met the Crusade’s requirements were allowed to vote on the endorsement.

Mr. Bourne noted more than 105 votes were cast, but 25 were thrown out after being disputed by campaign representatives and tellers.

For Mr. McAuliffe, a Fairfax County businessman, the Crusade endorsement appears to add to his campaign’s momentum. Two recent statewide polls have indicated that Mr. McAuliffe holds a significant lead among potential primary voters.

The Crusade also endorsed Jody Wagner, the former state secretary of finance, for lieutenant governor in her Democratic primary contest against A. Michael “Mike” Signer, a Democratic strategist who served in Gov. Mark Warner’s administration.

In other primary races, the Crusade voted to back incumbent Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. over his challenger, Maj. Antionette V. Irving of the Henrico County Sheriff’s Department.

The Crusade also endorsed Antione Green in the three-way race for the Democratic nomination in the 69th House of Delegates District, previously represented by Delegate Franklin P. Hall, who stepped down last month after being appointed to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

Mr. Green, a workforce training specialist who is in his second term as Crusade president, is vying against School Board memberBetsy B. Carr and corporate attorney Carlos M. Brown. Last Friday, four days before the Crusade vote, Mr. Green announced he was taking a leave of absence from his post as Crusade president to concentrate on his campaign.

The Crusade’s acting president is J.J.Minor, first vice president and son of Delegate McQuinn.

Tags: crusade, endorsements, macker, mcauliffe, richmond, richmond crusade for voters, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

McAuliffe Releases Response Ad Highlighting his Campaign Work on Behalf of President Obama

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released a new ad highlighting his record as an advocate for President Obama during last year's General Election campaign.

"I campaigned hard for Hillary Clinton," says McAuliffe in the ad. "But when the primaries ended I campaigned just as hard to help elect Barack Obama. My opponents know that. Brian Moran is a good democrat; so it's sad to see him use the same kind of attack politics against me that the Republicans used against President Obama."

The ad comes as a reponse to negative and misleading radio advertisements aired by the Moran campaign.

The radio ad will run on adult urban contemporary, gospel, and religious radio stations in the Norfolk and Richmond media markets. It was produced by Potomac Waves, a minority-owned and operated media consulting firm based in Washington, DC.

The ad can be heard at http://www.terrymcauliffe.com/articles/terry-mcauliffe-responds-to-morans-attack.

Tags: macker, mcauliffe, norfolk, obama, radio, radio ad, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, virginia

McAuliffe slams GOP candidate on jobs

Richmond Times Dispatch
May 12, 2009
By Jeff E. Schapiro

Pitching for the youth vote with will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas fame, Democrat Terry McAuliffe is unloading some boom, boom, pow on his would-be Republican opponent for governor.

While campaigning yesterday with the hip-hop star whose group's latest tune, "Boom, Boom, Pow," is No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, McAuliffe attacked former Attorney General Bob McDonnell for defending House of Delegates Republicans' vote to block $125 million in federal funds for expanded jobless benefits.

"Once people understand it, they get outraged over it," said McAuliffe, noting that the money is available to Virginia for seven years to assist unemployed part-timers and those training for other jobs.

McAuliffe, one of three candidates for the Democratic nomination to be decided in a June 9 primary, unloaded on McDonnell during a stop yesterday with will.i.am that drew about 80 to The Camel, a Broad Street nightspot.

Will.i.am was instrumental in mobilizing young voters last year for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

The McDonnell campaign, rolling out its first television commercial apparently to deflect a Democratic ad attacking him on the unemployment issue, declined to comment on McAuliffe's broadside.

"We wish him the best of luck in his contested and tough primary," McDonnell spokesman J. Tucker Martin said.

McAuliffe was asked about the McDonnell advertisement, which is largely autobiographical but closes with a flourish that echoes one invoked by McAuliffe from the very start of his candidacy: job creation.

"They know it's about jobs -- it's about the economy," said McAuliffe, opposed for the Democratic nomination by state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria. "They see I'm getting a lot of traction with my economic argument. They're getting nervous."

Will.i.am, wearing a white toque, thick-soled, lace-up black patent leather shoes, shiny black trousers and a snug, slightly frayed militarylike jacket, joined McAuliffe in Hampton Roads, Richmond and Northern Virginia.

The recording artist and McAuliffe have not always been on the same side. While will.i.am backed Obama from the start of the 2008 race, McAuliffe led the campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

However, McAuliffe, as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, enlisted will.i.am as a party spokesman in 2004 on behalf of the party's unsuccessful presidential nominee, John Kerry.

Will.i.am, at least the second headliner behind former President Bill Clinton to stump for McAuliffe, described the McLean investor-businessman as the "guy who got me into politics."

Tags: arlington, economy, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, mcdonnell, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia, will.i.am

Clinton lends political clout to McAuliffe's bid for governor

The Virginian-Pilot
April 28, 2009
By Warren Fiske

RICHMOND -- Yes, he does owe Terry McAuliffe a huge political debt, former President Bill Clinton said Monday.

But that's not the sole reason he came to Richmond to endorse McAuliffe's bid for governor, Clinton added.

"Look, everyone knows he's one of my closest friends," the 42nd president said at a rally at a downtown farmer's market. "So look, I'd be here regardless. Everyone knows that.

"The press says, 'Oh well, Terry McAuliffe has raised millions of dollars for Bill Clinton. He has to show up.' And that's absolutely true," Clinton told the crowd.

"... But here's what I really want to tell you," he said. "I am here today for reasons that go way, way beyond that."

Echoing McAuliffe's campaign theme, Clinton insisted that his ally would do a powerful job creating jobs and improving Virginia's economy.

"He was made for this moment," Clinton said. "He's been a great businessman. He's been a tremendously effective political leader. He has energy, he's creative, and he cares."

McAuliffe, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, faces two rivals in a June 9 Democratic primary: state Sen. Creigh Deeds and former Del. Brian Moran. The winner will face former Attorney General Bob McDonnell, a Republican, this fall.

Clinton's appearance was hardly a surprise. McAuliffe was a top fundraiser for the former president's national campaigns. He was national chairman of Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid last year. Bill Clinton contributed $10,000 to McAuliffe's campaign in January.

Scenes of the two men embracing under the market's rustic sign - and of Clinton reciting a history of McAuliffe's entrepreneurship beginning as a teen - may lend themselves to television ads during the late stretches of the primary.

McAuliffe is hoping Clinton can galvanize support in a primary that is expected to generate small voter turnout. While Deeds and Moran have relied on their long involvement in Virginia politics to win local endorsements and piece together grass-roots support, McAuliffe has banked on national connections to raise far more money that his opponents and air a steady stream of television commercials.

"One of the things they're trying to do is overcome the sheaf of endorsements Deeds and Moran have by saying one Clinton is worth 100 local officials," said Bob Holsworth, a political scientist at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Richmond police estimated 400 people attended the rally; the McAuliffe campaign subsequently called reporters and insisted that the number was at least 600. Later in the day, Clinton and McAuliffe appeared at a smaller event in Roanoke.

Tags: bill clinton, clinton, economy, energy, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

Gov. candidate, Bill Clinton hit energy, jobs theme

Associated Press
April 27, 2009
Bob Lewis

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton told Democrats that if they liked the way America grew jobs under his watch, they'll love what Terry McAuliffe does as Virginia governor.

In the first of two stops Monday, longtime friends and political comrades Clinton and McAuliffe defined energy and jobs as the dominant issues in the campaign.

Clinton told about 350 people at a Richmond rally that McAuliffe was right to push offshore wind energy and technologies to turn poultry waste into power.

Later in Roanoke, he told about 250 people that the only way to put Virginians to work with a good wage over the next 10 years is to change the way the nation produces and consumes power.

McAuliffe said those jobs are his key to addressing revenue needs for public school and transportation.

Tags: bill clinton, clinton, energy, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, richmond, roanoke, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe

Bill Clinton, Terry McAuliffe make Roanoke campaign stop in race for governor

The Roanoke Times
April 27, 2009
By Michael Sluss and Mason Adams

Former president Bill Clinton and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe spoke to a crowd of about 250 in downtown Roanoke this afternoon, asking for support and touting McAuliffe's job and energy plans.

The pair spoke for a little less than 30 minutes in front of Fire Station 1 on Church Avenue Southwest. The stop was their second after a morning rally in Richmond. Clinton, who was clearly the draw for most of the Roanoke crowd, said McAuliffe would move aggressively on job creation and new energy development to put the state on the front edge of the nation's economic recovery. Clinton also said McAuliffe could keep the governor's mansion in Democratic hands in an election that will have national political implications.

"The Republicans see this an opportunity to make some gains and set the stage for 2012," Clinton said during the Richmond appearance, which drew a crowd of about 400, according to Richmond officials. "Terry McAuliffe sees this an opportunity to make sure that Virginia leads the way in America's economic recovery."

McAuliffe is playing his political trump card by campaigning with Clinton six weeks before the June 9 Democratic primary, hoping to separate himself from state Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Del. Brian Moran of Alexandria. The winner of the intraparty fight will face Republican Bob McDonnell, the former attorney general, in the November election.

McAuliffe, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, headed the fundraising effort for Clinton's 1996 re-election bid and chaired Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. But Clinton said his visit to Virginia is about more than returning a favor to a friend.

"I'd show up here regardless," Clinton said. "The press says, 'Oh, well, Terry McAuliffe raised millions of dollars for Bill Clinton, he's got to show up.' And that's absolutely true. But here's what I want to tell you: I'm here today for reasons that go way, way beyond that."

Clinton, a former governor of Arkansas, said governors will play key roles in the nation's economic recovery and said McAuliffe's plan to create jobs, particularly in emerging renewable energy fields, can accelerate Virginia's economic rebound.

"Governors will have an enormous impact on the speed of the economic recovery, the number of jobs that are created, the kinds of jobs that are created and whether ordinary families will actually be benefiting," Clinton said

Tags: bill clinton, clinton, economy, energy, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, richmond, roanoke, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

President Clinton and Terry McAuliffe Rally for JOBS

Well over one thousand people showed up to hear President Bill Clinton and Terry McAuliffe campaign together in Richmond and Roanoke today. The weather was perfect. And the crowds were fired up.

President Clinton – who created more jobs than any other President in US history — told the audience that Terry’s experience as an entrepreneur with 13 years experience running large organizations made him best qualified to create the jobs of the future and grow Virginia’s economy.

Terry hit a home run detailing some big ideas in his Business Plan to move Virginia forward. And he explained that as someone who hasn’t been part of the partisan, legislative battles of the past, he’ll bring a fresh approach that will deliver results in Richmond.

Check out some of the news coverage:

Former President Bill Clinton told Democrats that if they liked the way America grew jobs under his watch, they’ll love what Terry McAuliffe does as Virginia governor.

[Associated Press, 4-27-08]

Clinton also said McAuliffe could keep the governor’s mansion in Democratic hands in an election that will have national political implications.

“The Republicans see this an opportunity to make some gains and set the stage for 2012,” Clinton said this morning in an appearance with McAuliffe at an open-air farmer’s market in Richmond, drawing a crowd of about 400, according to Richmond officials. “Terry McAuliffe sees this an opportunity to make sure that Virginia leads the way in America’s economic recovery.”

[Roanoke Times, 4-27-08]

The former president said McAuliffe will attract businesses to Virginia and create jobs. “He was made for this moment in Virginia,” said Clinton.

[Virginian-Pilot, 4-27-08]

Clinton joined McAuliffe for a mid-morning rally in Richmond’s Farmer’s Market, telling a crowd the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee is ideally suited to be Virginia’s next governor. McAuliffe’s campaign said about 600 signed in for the event.

Clinton cited McAuliffe’s success as a businessman and investor, his leadership of the DNC and his ability to work with Republicans.

“He’s the right sort of bipartisan guy,“ said Clinton, with McAuliffe standing to his left. “He’ll reach out to Republicans, but he’s not the sort of guy who will let people jack you around.“

Clinton also said McAuliffe would be a superior partner with President Barack Obama. Clinton said it’s important that governors be able to work closely with the White House if the economy is to recover.

McAuliffe, who headed to Roanoke with Clinton after the Richmond appearance, attacked the all-but-official Republican nominee, former attorney general Bob McDonnell.

McAuliffe said McDonnell has an “idelogical agenda that will divide people.“

[Richmond Times-Dispatch, 4-27-09]

Tags: 2009, bill clinton, campaign, economy, jobs, rally, richmond, roanoke, terry mcauliffe, virginia governor

Bill Clinton campaigns in Richmond for McAuliffe

Richmond-Times Dispatch
April 27, 2009
By Jeff Schapiro

Former President Bill Clinton is campaigning across Virginia today for his political ally and top fund-raiser, Terry McAuliffe, who is standing for the Democratic nomination for governor in the June 9 primary.

Clinton joined McAuliffe for a mid-morning rally in Richmond’s Farmer’s Market, telling a crowd the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee is ideally suited to be Virginia’s next governor. McAuliffe’s campaign said about 600 signed in for the event, but Richmond police this afternoon estimated that 350 had attended.

Clinton cited McAuliffe’s success as a businessman and investor, his leadership of the DNC and his ability to work with Republicans.

“He’s the right sort of bipartisan guy,“ said Clinton, with McAuliffe standing to his left. “He’ll reach out to Republicans, but he’s not the sort of guy who will let people jack you around.“

Clinton also said McAuliffe would be a superior partner with President Barack Obama. Clinton said it’s important that governors be able to work closely with the White House if the economy is to recover.

McAuliffe, who headed to Roanoke with Clinton after the Richmond appearance, attacked the all-but-official Republican nominee, former attorney general Bob McDonnell.

McAuliffe said McDonnell has an “idelogical agenda that will divide people.“

McAuliffe is vying against former delegate Brian Moran of Alexandria and Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County for the Democratic nomination.

Tags: bill clinton, clinton, economy, energy, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, richmond, roanoke, t-mac, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

Watch the Ad, Then Sign Up to Volunteer

Tags: hampton roads, mcauliffe, richmond, terry mcauliffe, turbines, virginia beach, wind energy

McAuliffe Releases New Ad Highlighting New Energy Ideas

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released a new television advertisement highlighting his ideas for harnessing new energy technology to create jobs and promote a cleaner environment throughout the Commonwealth.

"As Governor, I'll put my experience investing in the alternative energy field to work for all of Virginia," says McAuliffe in the ad. "We'll attract new business, create thousands of renewable energy jobs, and together we can build a stronger economy and a clearner environment."

The television ad will run on stations in the Richmond and Hampton Roads media markets. The ad can be viewed at http://www.terrymcauliffe.com/articles/new-tv-spot-highlights-new-energy-ideas.

Tags: ad, business, hampton roads, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, renewable energy, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, tv ad, va-gov, virginia

Richmond Democratic Leaders Endorse McAuliffe for Governor

For Immediate Release: April 14, 2009

Today, over a dozen Richmond community activists and leaders announced their support for Terry McAuliffe’s campaign for Governor. They released the following statement outlining why he is the best candidate for the job:

“We are pleased to endorse Terry McAuliffe, and his campaign to win the Virginia Democratic primary. As grassroots leaders, we encourage all voters in the City of Richmond and surrounding areas to vote for Terry McAuliffe on June 9, 2009.

“We believe that Terry understands urban communities and the issues they face. Richmond and Virginia will be a better place with Terry McAuliffe in the Governor’s mansion. Terry shares our concerns and will work with our communities to improve inner city schools, youth programs, neighborhood development, infrastructure improvements, voting rights issues, and vital redistricting reform.

“We like-wise share his stand on energy, education, transportation, and economic growth for the commonwealth. Virginia needs Terry McAuliffe; he’s the right man at the right time.”

Marty Jewell, Richmond City Council
Art Burton, Richmond Community Activist
Sharon Burton, Richmond Community Activist
Amelia Lightner, Richmond Community Activist
John Lloyd, Richmond Community Activist
Terry Binford, Richmond Community Activist
Hope Murphy Elliott, Richmond Community Activist
Reginald Malone, Fmr School board member
William Laffoon, Fmr School board member
Zarina Fazaldin, Richmond Community Activist
Carrie Cox, Richmond Community Activist
Rita Ricks, Richmond Community Activist
Regina L. Hatcher, Richmond Community Activist

Tags: mcauliffe, richmond, richmond democratic leaders, terry mcauliffe

McAuliffe Takes A Chapter From Obama Playbook In Governor Bid

April 6, 2009
The Washington Post
Tim Craig

RICHMOND — Terry McAuliffe was stung when Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, which he oversaw, fell to Barack Obama last year. But over the course of the campaign, it appears he took careful notes.

Now, as McAuliffe finds himself in a hard-fought race for governor of Virginia, he is employing many of the same tactics that his opponent used successfully just a year earlier. He is reaching out to new voters, exploiting new technology and casting himself as a fresh-faced outsider. He is not taking any region for granted, is targeting African Americans and is swarming communities with paid organizers. It all bears a surprising likeness to the strategies Obama used so effectively in 2008.

In his matchup against Brian Moran and Sen. R. Creigh Deeds for the Democratic nomination, McAuliffe is even replicating Obama's use of a one-word campaign theme. For Obama, it was "change." McAuliffe's mantra is "jobs," a word he says over and over.

To some degree, what McAuliffe is doing is what any modern campaign does: adopting and expanding on the latest innovations.

"All the social media, organizing and Internet fundraising that Obama did is becoming standard in campaigns, and I think in the Virginia race, McAuliffe has probably done it better than anybody," said Jennifer E. Duffy, editor of the Cook Political report.

But McAuliffe's use of the tools that undid the Clinton campaign carries a special irony, given that it was only weeks between when he fell prey to these tactics and adopted them himself.

"I would think if anybody could learn what Hillary did wrong, it's Terry," said Michael Mohler, president of the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters Association, which recently endorsed McAuliffe.

McAuliffe has been reluctant to acknowledge the similarities between his effort and Obama's. When asked about it in a recent interview, McAuliffe initially said he didn't learn anything from the Obama campaign. Then he clarified his response by noting that he has worked on Democratic campaigns since his early 20s.

"I have a unique perspective, because I have been at the highest levels of campaigns for a lot of years," the former Democratic National Committee chairman explained. "I've learned from winning campaigns. I've learned from losing campaigns."

From the earliest hours of his unexpected bid for Virginia's highest office, McAuliffe began adopting the ideas of his former rival. He had his supporters sign up so they would be "the first to know" by text message when he officially entered the race in January. Obama employed the same device last summer to collect hundreds of thousands of cellphone numbers and e-mail addresses by having supporters sign up to be alerted about his choice of a running mate.

During the Democratic primaries in February 2008, Obama made headlines by airing an ad during the Super Bowl in more than a dozen states. McAuliffe followed suit during this year's Super Bowl, buying a 30-second spot in the Hampton Roads market at the end of the third quarter.

There's even an echo of Obama's iconic logo in the one selected by McAuliffe. Obama used a rising sun. McAuliffe's is the shape of Virginia filled with sunshinelike rays.

Herb Smith, an Obama organizer from Falls Church who volunteers for Moran, said he found the echoes in McAuliffe's campaign "peculiar," given how McAuliffe "campaigned against the guy so hard for two years."

"It makes you sit back and laugh," Smith said.

Duffy said successful national presidential campaigns are incubators for political techniques. It just so happens, she said, that Virginia's governor's race is the first big contest in which candidates have the opportunity to emulate the Obama campaign.

"I think this is the future, and I think McAuliffe and the people around him had a lot of exposure to it last year," Duffy said.

McAuliffe wasn't the only one who had exposure to Obama's tactics. Mike Henry, McAuliffe's campaign manager, served as Clinton's deputy campaign manager during the first half of last year's primaries and caucuses.

"The thing I took away from '08 is: You've got to bring new people into the process," said Henry, who managed Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner's campaign after he left the Clinton campaign in February 2008 amid a staff shake-up. "You've got to make sure you build an organization that can compete for votes in every region."

During the fall general election, Obama helped secure a win in Virginia by opening 50 offices and deploying more than 200 staffers throughout the state. This year, McAuliffe is the candidate with the most offices and the largest staff. He has opened 10 offices and hired almost 100 paid staffers, including several dozen former Obama staffers.

Mo Elleithee, a senior strategist for McAuliffe who served as one of Clinton's chief spokesmen during last year's presidential campaign, said all good campaigns borrow ideas. But he and Henry stress that a candidate has to have his own message and his own strategy.

"Tactically, you want to learn the lesson of what went right and what went wrong when it comes to building a campaign . . . and then determine how do you marry that with Terry and his background and his vision and his message," Elleithee said.

The merging of the old with the new is evident in McAuliffe's campaign message.

Last year, Obama pledged not to accept campaign contributions from political action committees or lobbyists. McAuliffe is not making a blanket pledge to refuse money from lobbyists or PACs. But he has said he won't accept corporate campaign contributions from any company receiving federal bailout money.

The promise fits into McAuliffe's strategy of running as a Richmond outsider, despite his reputation for being a Washington insider. And it mirrors Obama's efforts to position himself as the Washington outsider, even though he was a sitting U.S. senator.

McAuliffe also appears to have learned from Obama's demeanor on the campaign trail. During most of the primaries, Obama vowed not to go negative against Clinton. This year, that vow belongs to McAuliffe, who has pledged to run a relentlessly positive campaign.

Tags: grassroots, macker, mcauliffe, richmond, supporters, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

McAuliffe the policy wonk, McAuliffe the attack dog

April 3, 2009
Decision Virginia

Terry McAuliffe came to Richmond on Thursday to unveil the third chapter in his business plan. The plan is the key policy piece in his argument that he is the best candidate for Governor of Virginia.

McAuliffe spoke to a small group of business leaders in Richmond and outlined his belief that economic security for the indvidual is as important a concept as the growth of industry and job creation. He broke down three important aspects of economic security: access to health care, affordable education and retirement security. It is the candidate’s belief that if individuals are more secure in each of their individual situations, the overall health of the commonwealth will improve.

You can read his entire release and see video from his stop in Richmond after the jump…

While McAuliffe was touting his think policy wonk friendly business plan during the morning, he spent the afternoon attempting to rile up his base, with an offhanded joke used at a recent Bob McDonnell fundraiser. McAuliffe and his team attacked the GOP candidate for Governor for standing next to former Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee while he told a joke he has told many times before about keeping non-McDonnell voters from the polls. You can see what Huck said here.

McAuliffe camp the idea of “voter supression” no laughing matter. He held a conference call where he asked McDonnell to condemn Huckabee’s comments. He also used the clip as a way to raise money. The campaign sent out an e-mail to supporters expressing their outrage and asking for cash to beat back McDonnell’s efforts.

The McDonnell campaign decided against taking McAuliffe’s advice. A spokesman said the attack “demonstrates a complete lack of perspective and seriousness. ” It is also worth pointing out that jokes like these are not uncommon on the campaign trail by Republicans and Democrats. In fact President Barack Obama himself made a similar joke on the campaign trail (h/t Shad Plank).

I think what is more interesting is how McAuliffe can work two different angles at virtually the same time. It is an advantage that only a campaign with his resources can do. Not only does the Macker have the staff to compile a comprehensive document, thick with ideas on how to fix the economy, but at almost the exact same time they can research tid-bits on their opponent and release a layered attack that reaches out to the press and potential donors. It is something that at this point, he is the only candidate capable of doing.

Tags: business plan, economy, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia, voter suppression, voting, voting rights

Big Weekend

This weekend was huge! We made a trip to the Young Democrats convention, opened two field offices and brought hundreds of new volunteers in the process. Boy was it exciting seeing and talking to all those people as we begin to build a historic grassroots movement. I really enjoyed seeing such strong numbers of student Democrats at UVA Saturday. These are the young people who will really rally hard for our party. They are talented and hard working. And it’s a reminder that we’ve got to make sure we don’t lose Virginia’s best and brightest to other states.

I was also really feeling the energy in Charlottesville. Our local field office had standing room only for the grand opening and the crowd was pumped up and ready to work. The same was true in Richmond, where volunteers threw a huge party with live music and a Terry 2009 cake-- baked and donated by Just Cakes of Richmond. It was a great weekend and we’re just getting started! We’ve got 10 offices open across the Commonwealth. Our grassroots base is growing, and we want you with us. We’re pushing full steam ahead to June 9th!

Tags: field offices, governor 2009, mcauliffe, richmond, terry mcauliffe, virginia governor

First to File

Yesterday in Richmond, Terry was the first candidate to submit petitions to run for governor. Arriving before any other candidate at noon, the earliest time to submit petitions, Terry once again showed the grassroots organization and powerful support behind his campaign.

After months of building the largest grassroots campaign in Virginia gubernatorial history, Terry submitted 17,243 signatures, well over the 10,000 needed to qualify. Terry's field organizers recruited volunteers to gather signatures and lay the groundwork for a successful field operation. With a little more than two months to go before primary election day, we look forward to continuing a strong Democratic campaign with help from volunteers and supporters like you.

Check out the video below of Terry handing over his boxes of signatures in Richmond.

Tags: 2009, gov-va, governor 2009, grassroots, macker, mcauliffe, petitions, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, virginia

McAuliffe Campaign On The Air With New Ad in Richmond, Hampton Roads

Emphasizing his work to promote the inclusion of every Virginia community in the electoral process, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe today released a new radio advertisement. Entitled "Leadership," the 60-second spot highlights his continued commitment to fighting for Virginians.

"I'm Terry McAuliffe and as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee I worked hard to protect voting rights and as your Governor I will work even harder for you and your family." McAuliffe says in the ads. "I'll bring big ideas and a fresh approach to Richmond, but we've got to get started right now. My business plan will create thousands of jobs. It will take wind energy off our coast to power our homes, invest in technology that can convert waste into energy, and fund Pre-K programs and increase teacher pay."

The radio ad is running on adult urban contemporary, gospel, and religious radio stations in the Norfolk and Richmond media markets. It was produced by Potomac Waves, a minority-owned and operated media consulting firm based in Washington, DC.

The ad can be heard here.

Tags: ad, jobs, leadership, macker, mcauliffe, norfolk, radio, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, virginia

New Radio Ad in Richmond and Hampton Roads

Emphasizing his work to promote the inclusion of every Virginia community in the electoral process, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe today released a new radio advertisement. Entitled “Leadership,” the 60-second spot highlights his continued commitment to fighting for Virginians.

If you’re having trouble using the player, you can click here to download the ad.

Tags: 2009, hampton roads, mcauliffe, richmond, terry mcauliffe, virginia governor

Statement from Terry McAuliffe Regarding the End of the Legislative Session

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released the following statement regarding the end of the legislative session. McAuliffe cited the passage of several renewable energy bills, including legislation that would encourage energy efficiency, create economic incentives for biofuels, and promote the production of electric energy from waste [SB 1248; SB1186; HB2001; HB2576].

"This session, I was heartened to see Republicans and Democrats work together to pass several measures that will help Virginia move ahead on developing our renewable energy sector. Providing economic incentives for biofuels, encouraging increased energy efficiency, and promoting the conversion of solid waste to electricity will help develop this critical industry. While I believe that we need a mandatory renewable energy standard, these bills were a step in the right direction to make Virginia a national leader in renewable energy and create green jobs in the Commonwealth.

"Unfortunately, we saw once again that Republican leadership in the House of Delegates was often too willing to put ideology before bipartisan solutions, blocking measures to allow early voting and reduce the gerrymandering of political districts in Virginia. These measures would have made voting easier for eligible Virginians of all political backgrounds and encouraged more competitive elections to attract the best possible candidates for public office. It's time for us to put these partisan games aside and work together to get the Commonwealth back on track."

Tags: 2009, bipartisan solutions, economic growth, economy, energy efficiency, governor, jobs, legislative session, macker, mcauliffe, renewable energy, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, tmac, va-gov, virginia

Virginia Fire Fighters Join Our Campaign to Grow Virginia's Economy

Yesterday, Terry received the enthusiastic endorsement of the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters (VPFF) in Richmond. The endorsement was a tremendous addition to our grassroots campaign to grow Virginia's economy and create good jobs. At the press conference, VPFF President R. Michael Mohler said that "Terry McAuliffe has spent years fighting for working men and women like our fire fighters and first responders." Citing Terry's unique economic experience helping struggling businesses, creating good jobs, and investing in new industries, Mohler noted that "Terry has the right experience to get our economy back on track."

Terry has had a lifetime commitment to fighting for first responders, and as Governor, he will make sure that our fire fighters and paramedics have the resources they need to do their jobs. Terry knows how hard the brave men and women of the VPFF work every single day -- he worked an eight-hour shift himself earlier this month. Terry will significantly invest in public safety by providing the best equipment and training so our emergency professionals can do their very best.

The Fire Fighters endorsement was a huge boost to a campaign already riding a wave of momentum. Tim Craig of the Washington Post wrote that "about 100 union members, who were wearing yellow 'Firefighters for McAuliffe' t-shirts," cheered on McAuliffe as he accepted the endorsement from the "influential labor organization." And Dan Sullivan of BlueCommonwealth wrote that this endorsement represented a "turning point" in this campaign. Sullivan continued:

The environment, political and economic, has changed from that during the long period of informal and formal campaigning by the two well liked and more familiar Virginia Democratic figures. Jobs, McAuliffe’s loudest drumbeat, has been thrust into primacy in this campaign and his private sector credentials clearly distinguish him from his Republican opponent. The additional grassroots support and organization of the VPFF may provide the inertia necessary to draw away in the primary contest.

NBC 12's Journal of Central Virginia Politics reported:

The [Virginia Professional Fire Fighters] union has a history of backing winners and using their extensive membership to get out the vote and raise money. It was a pretty picture for the Macker to be photographed with all the trademark yellow shirts behind him at the Omni in Richmond.

Tim Craig reported some of Mohler's best lines: "We have to turn the power of the legislature over to the Democrats. We intend to take on Bill Howell.... We are going to take him out. The person who can do that is with us today, the person with us today obviously has the financial resources, he's got the network, he's got the vision, he's got the energy to get out the message - its about jobs."

Terry let the VPFF members know that he will stand by their side throughout this campaign and into his Governorship: "You are here. You are putting your effort behind me. I will be put my effort behind you. I promise you, no one will work harder for you. This is a partnership."

With 55 local unions and 7,500 members throughout the Commonwealth, the VPFF will add tremendous support on the ground for Terry's campaign. This grassroots endorsement started a day that ended with the campaign's grand headquarters opening in McLean, where Terry's strong organization in the field was unveiled.

Tags: 2009, economic growth, economy, endorsements, fire fighters, governor, jobs, labor, macker, mcauliffe, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, unions, va-gov, virginia, virginia professional fire fighters, vpff

Virginia Notebook: Firefighters Make It Official

February 18th, 2009
The Washington Post
By Tim Craig

The Virginia Professional Firefighters Association, an influential labor organization, officially endorsed Terry McAuliffe in the Democratic primary for governor today at an event in Richmond.

R. Michael Mohler, the president of the association, said the union trusts McAuliffe to create more jobs as governor and run a vigorous campaign this year that will also help Democrats retake control of the House of Delegates.

"We understand the connection between a strong economy and our jobs," Mohler told about 100 union members, who were wearing yellow "Firefighters for McAuliffe" t-shirts. "We have to turn the power of the legislature over to the Democrats. We intend to take on Bill Howell ....We are going to take him out. The person who can do that is with us today, the person with us today obviously has the financial resources, he's got the network, he's got the vision, he's got the energy to get out the message - its about jobs."

During his speech, McAuliffe pledged to create more jobs and talked about the day he spent working as a firefighter in Fairfax County.

McAuliffe said he "will never forget" the fire fighters, even suggesting they could call him on his cell phone if he becomes governor.

"This is a big deal," McAuliffe said. "You are here. You are putting your effort behind me. I will be put my effort behind you. I promise you, no one will work harder for you. This is a partnership."

Tags: 2009, economic growth, economy, endorsements, firefighters, governor, jobs, labor, macker, mcauliffe, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, union, va-gov, virginia, virginia professional fire fighters, vpff

TERRY MCAULIFFE ENDORSED BY VIRGINIA PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS

For Immediate Release: February 18, 2009

TERRY MCAULIFFE ENDORSED BY VIRGINIA PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS

Citing his unique experience to turn Virginia's economy around and his long-standing commitment to the men and women who work on the front lines to protect our families, the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters today endorsed Terry McAuliffe for governor at a press conference in Richmond.

"Terry McAuliffe has spent years fighting for working men and women like our fire fighters and first responders," said Mike Mohler, President of the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters. "Like everyone else, we are feeling the effects of the economic downturn. Terry has the right experience to get our economy back on track, and he has made clear that like Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, as governor, he will ensure that EMS and fire fighting personnel have the resources they need to do their jobs."

Speaking at the press conference, McAuliffe thanked the fire fighters for their work and talked about supporting first responders and stabilizing Virginia's budget by turning our economy around.

"I want to express my appreciation for the work that fire fighters and first responders do here in the Commonwealth," McAuliffe said. "There is nothing more honorable than putting yourself on the line to help others, and that's what you do every single day."

"We owe it to you to make sure that you have the equipment and the support you need to do your jobs safely," McAuliffe continued. "As governor, I will work to grow Virginia's economy, so that we can invest more in public safety and first responders."

The Virginia Professional Fire Fighters (VPFF) is an association of local unions of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), representing career professional firefighters and paramedics in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VPFF was originally established on January 10th, 1955, as the Virginia State Association of Fire Fighters, by charter locals from Newport News, Petersburg, Portsmouth, Richmond, and Roanoke. From the original group of 5 locals representing 640 firefighters in 1955, the VPFF has grown to 55 local unions representing over 7,500 firefighters and paramedics.

Tags: 2009, economic growth, economy, endorsements, firefighters, governor, jobs, labor, macker, mcauliffe, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia, virginia professional fire fighters, vpff

Working Together

What a weekend! The gathering of Democratic activists and elected officials in Richmond for the annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner was the perfect celebration of everything we've accomplished.

We've gotten to where we are today by offering the people of Virginia a pragmatic, common-sense approach to policy and a positive, hopeful approach to politics. And that's exactly the spirit that Terry brought to the dinner. Noting that Terry was "well received," VCU professor Bob Holsworth wrote that, "I think that his concentration on jobs and economic recovery will get people's attention."

Campaigning for governor is serious business, but every now and again, we get to relax and just enjoy the fact that we're all Democrats. And I wanted to share the video that we presented before Terry's speech, as well as some photos from a very fun-filled weekend.

Over the last eight years, we've learned some valuable lessens from our foes on the other side of the aisle. As the Republicans fought amongst themselves, leaving their party fractured and divided, we've remained unified.

That focus has delivered results. In the last eight years, we've elected two Democratic governors, picked up three Congressional seats, taken both U.S. Senate seats, the state Senate, and capped it all off by voting Barack Obama into the White House. Going forward, we cannot mess with that success. As Bill Clinton, the keynote speaker, told everyone on Saturday night, we need to "stay together, work together."

We face a real test with this upcoming governor's race. That's why it's so important that we remain committed to the principles that allowed us to elect Governors Kaine and Warner. And I don't think anyone is better suited to carry on their legacy than Terry McAuliffe.

In his speech Saturday night, Terry vowed never to attack our Democratic opponents. Instead, he criticized the Republican nominee, Bob McDonnell, for standing in the way of Mark Warner and Tim Kaine's agenda to create jobs and move Virginia forward. And by the end of the speech, the entire room was chanting along with him, letting McDonnell know that when it comes to standing in the way of progress, "Those days are over."

Click Here to See Photos and Video from the Weekend.

We clearly had a strong showing this weekend, and left a great impression with everyone in attendance. If you were previously undecided and are now ready to support Terry's candidacy, please visit our website and sign up to get involved. This campaign is about you, and we're counting on your help to make it a success.

Tags: 2009, governor, henry, jefferson-jackson, jj, macker, mcauliffe, mike, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

Terry McAuliffe's Video at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner

Tags: 2009, democratic, dinner, governor, jefferson-jackson, jj, jobs, macker, mcauliffe, richmond, t-mac, terry, terry mcauliffe, va-gov, virginia

Watch Our New Richmond TV Ad

Tags: ad, circuit city, economy, jobs, mcauliffe, richmond, television ad, terry mcauliffe, vcu

Watch Our New Richmond TV Ad

Tags: ad, circuit city, economy, jobs, mcauliffe, richmond, television ad, terry mcauliffe, vcu

New TV ad

Starting tomorrow, we’re taking our message to the airwaves in a new portion of the state: Richmond. In this 30 second spot, Terry talks about solutions to help the region’s struggling economy.

Tags: ad, circuit city, economy, jobs, mcauliffe, richmond, television ad, terry mcauliffe, vcu

Come to dinner with me

It's an exciting time to be a Virginia Democrat. We're in a stronger strategic position than at any time I can remember, and I want to put you in the center of the action.

Next weekend, on February 7th, Democratic activists, elected officials, and party leaders are going to meet in Richmond for the annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner. I am pumped up and ready to go. And I want you to sit at the liveliest table at the event -- mine!

For the next five days we're going to be holding a contest . Click here to enter your contact information and you'll automatically be entered to win a chance to sit next to me at the dinner. I'll let you know if you'll be joining me next week.

It's really amazing how far we've come. Just eight years ago, our party was broke and busted. Republicans controlled the governorship, both US Senate seats, and no Democratic Presidential candidate had carried Virginia in decades.

But starting in 2001, we went on a roll. Promising to run government like a business, Mark Warner took control of the Governor's mansion. And since then we've picked up three Congressional seats, taken both U.S. Senate seats, the state Senate, retained the governorship, and played a decisive role in voting Barack Obama into the White House.

At this year's JJ, we're going to celebrate all that we've accomplished, but we also need to set our sights on the future. Everything we've worked so hard to do in the last seven years under Mark Warner and Tim Kaine is at stake in this governor's race. And if we can finally take control of the House of Delegates too, I know we'll be able to keep moving Virginia forward.

So please don't miss this chance to join me at this exciting event.

Click Here for a Chance to Sit with Me at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.

Tags: contest, governor, jefferson-jackson, jj, mcauliffe, richmond, terry mcauliffe, virginia democrats, virginia governor

Terry McAuliffe Talks About Virginia Values

Tags: associated press, brian moran, democratic national committee, democratic party of virgina, healthcare, jobs, mark warner, richmond, terry mcauliffe, tim kaine, virginia

Terry McAuliffe talks about Tim Kaine and Mark Warner

Tags: associated press, economy, education, jobs, mark warner, richmond, tim kaine, transportation

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

Governor hopefuls give views on offshore drilling

“Governor hopefuls give views on offshore drilling” can also be read on the Richmond Times Dispatch website.

McDonnell, McAuliffe, Deeds and Moran offer a variety of positions

BY JIM NOLAN AND JEFF E. SCHAPIRO, Times-Dispatch Staff Writer

Republican candidate Bob McDonnell wants to drill baby, drill.

Democratic contenders R. Creigh Deeds and Terry McAuliffe want to poke around.

And Democratic candidate Brian Moran is reluctant to dig into the deep “at this time.”

No matter who wins in 2009, Virginia’s next governor likely will confront the prospect of drilling for oil and gas off the coast of the commonwealth.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of the Interior opened a 45-day public-comment period on offshore drilling, part of the process to consider leasing land off the Virginia coast in 2011 for oil and gas exploration.

The area considered for drilling is a 2.9 million-acre slice of the ocean floor more than 50 miles east of Virginia Beach and the state’s Eastern Shore. The Interior Department estimates it could contain 130 million barrels of oil and 1.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Interior’s announcement comes less than six weeks after Congress let a moratorium on offshore drilling expire and two months before a change of presidential administrations.

So yesterday, the four men expected to compete for the governor’s job outlined their positions on the politically combustible issue. It rose to prominence this year as gasoline prices topped $4 a gallon and energy independence took center stage in the presidential race.

“The attorney general strongly supports offshore drilling for oil and natural gas,” said Phil Cox, campaign strategist for McDonnell, Virginia’s attorney general and a former member of the House of Delegates from Virginia Beach.

“He believes that advances in technology over the past two decades give us the ability to drill offshore in an environmentally friendly way and believes offshore drilling will help to create new American jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy,” Cox added.

State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, favors “environmentally safe offshore drilling.” He said such drilling would need to generate royalties and not interfere with the military, tourism and fishing industries. He said it should be explored as part of a broad proposal to develop new energy technology and alternative fuel production in the commonwealth.

“By linking our world-class research institutions with a statewide energy initiative, we will create new jobs and solve the biggest issue of our generation,” he said.

Terry McAuliffe, an unannounced candidate for the Democratic nomination, is staking out a position that recalls that of current Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

Like the governor, McAuliffe favors exploration offshore for natural gas but not oil.

McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said the federal push for drilling along the Virginia coast is a last gasp for the departing Bush administration.

“This is Bush trying to get some stuff done at the end,” he said.

President-elect Barack Obama has said he is open to offshore energy exploration, but he has the option not to proceed with the sale of leases.

McAuliffe noted the concerns of the military, which worries that drilling platforms could be a hazard to U.S. warships and aircraft.

Another Democratic prospect, Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria, opposes exploration for oil and gas “at this time,” according to his spokesman, Jesse Ferguson.

“Our first priority should be alternative and renewable energy sources, not drilling for more of a 19th-century energy source,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson also said it has not been proved that Virginia oil and gas reserves are a “long-term solution” to energy needs.

He said Moran believes offshore exploration is a potential threat to the environment and to the appeal of Virginia Beach, among other shore points, as a tourist destination.

Tags: barack obama, eastern shore, hampton roads, offshore drilling, richmond, richmond times-dispatch, terry mcauliffe, virginia beach

Yes, Virginia, the Old Dominion Can and Does Lean Democratic

By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer

RICHMOND — One year before voters go to the polls to elect a new governor, Virginia Democrats appear well positioned to stay in power and continue their winning streak in major state races, according to a new Washington Post poll.

In one of the first surveys to explore the 2009 political landscape, Democrats have a 17-point advantage when voters are asked which party they want to win the governor’s race.

The question, included in a Washington Poll on the presidential race published Monday, highlights the challenges facing Republicans as more Virginia voters identify themselves as Democrats and independents.

Of registered voters, 48 percent prefer a Democratic governor vs. 31 percent who want a Republican.

According to the survey, a generic Democratic gubernatorial nominee starts the year with the same coalition of support that led to the election as governor of Mark R. Warner (D) in 2001 and Timothy M. Kaine (D) in 2005.

The survey, which shows voters in Northern Virginia favoring Democrats by 57 percent to 25 percent, sets the stage for another hard-fought political contest in the Old Dominion next year.

Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell is running unopposed for the Republican nomination for governor.

But for the first time since 1985, Democrats are girding for a primary fight to decide their nominee. Del. Brian J. Moran (Alexandria) and state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, who narrowly lost to McDonnell in the 2005 attorney general’s race, have announced they plan to run. Terry McAuliffe, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and adviser to Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton, is also considering a run.

The nomination is up for grabs in a three-way fight, according to the poll. When self-identified Democrats and independents who lean Democratic were asked which candidate they prefer as the nominee, 16 percent named Moran, 12 percent McAuliffe and 11 percent Deeds.

More than half the respondents said they were undecided. Moran’s narrow advantage is within the margin of error. Only a small percentage of registered voters will turn out in the June primary, so it’s hard to make any broad conclusions about the findings. In addition, the race will change dramatically once the candidates begin to campaign.

With McAuliffe and Moran living in Northern Virginia, the conventional wisdom is that Deeds benefits from a three-way fight for the nomination. But the poll finds the three candidates are separated by five percentage points or less in Hampton Roads, Richmond and the western part of the state.

In Northern Virginia, Moran has 22 percent of the vote and McAuliffe 12 percent. Deeds is drawing only 6 percent in Northern Virginia.

Black voters and self-described liberals, who tend to vote in higher percentages in Democratic primaries, will likely play a key role in determining the nominee.

Moran holds an eight-point advantage over McAuliffe among African Americans. McAuliffe and Moran are tied among voters who identified themselves as liberals.

White men essentially split their votes among the three candidates, and Moran holds a seven-point advantage among white women. Deeds does best among moderate Democrats.

The survey, conducted Oct. 22 to 25, did not match McDonnell against any of the potential Democratic candidates.

Because he is likely running unopposed for the Republican nomination, McDonnell will be able to spend the winter and spring stockpiling money, organizing his campaign and developing a message for the fall, while the Democrats duke it out.

McDonnell, a former legislator who had a 21-year career in Army, has a broad résumé that will make him a formidable Republican candidate. But the poll suggests McDonnell, an unabashed social and economic conservative, could face a difficult political climate once a Democratic nominee is chosen.

Self-described independents say they prefer a Democrat to win the governor’s race, by 40 percent to 25 percent. Female voters favor a Democrat by about 2 to 1, as do moderates.

Nearly 90 percent of African Americans want a Democratic governor, which is consistent with past statewide elections. The two parties are tied among white voters, a troubling sign for Republicans, who need to win this group by a big margin.

The huge showing in the poll for Democrats in Northern Virginia is a testament to the region’s shifting demographics. It also might signal voter frustration with Republicans in Richmond over the lack of new revenue for transportation.

In Hampton Roads, where traffic is also a concern, voters prefer a Democratic governor by 54 percent to 32 percent. Even in the historically conservative Richmond and western Virginia areas, registered voters narrowly prefer a Democratic governor.

Conservatives overwhelmingly want Republicans to reclaim the governor’s race. In addition, white evangelicals favor a Republican by 2 to 1.

In the 1990s, Republicans and white evangelicals made up a large enough share of the electorate to help elect two successive Republican governors, George Allen and James S. Gilmore III. But the number of Virginia voters identifying themselves as Republicans has steadily declined during President Bush’s second term.

As McDonnell works to expand the Republican base next year, he starts with several advantages. McDonnell, whose home political base is Virginia Beach and who maintains extensive ties to the military veteran community, will probably perform far better in Hampton Roads than the nameless Republican asked about in the poll.

McDonnell, if elected, would also be Virginia’s first Republican Catholic governor. Currently, white Catholics favor a Democratic governor by 46 percent to 31 percent.

McDonnell advisers think he will do better in Northern Virginia than other recent statewide Republican candidates.

Much can and will change over the next year, including a possible backlash against a new administration and Congress in Washington. Republicans, though, might want to take note of a similar Virginia poll conducted by The Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University in summer 2007.

That poll found that four in 10 Virginia voters wanted the next president to be a Democrat, compared with 33 percent who said they favor a Republican. At the time, Republicans scoffed at the suggestion that Virginia, which last voted for a Democratic presidential nominee in 1964, could be up for grabs in this year’s presidential race.

But The Washington Post poll published Monday showed Democrat Barack Obama with an eight-point lead over Republican John McCain in Virginia, 52 percent to 44 percent.

Polling analyst Jennifer Agiesta contributed to this report.

Tags: hampton roads, hillary clinton, mark warner, mcauliffe, richmond, terry mcauliffe, tim kaine, washington post

Teens Applaud Surrogate: Ex-party leader talks to Chesterfield teens on Obama's behalf - Times Dispatch

The former chairman of the Democratic National Committee told Chesterfield County high school students yesterday that Sen. Barack Obama would invest in infrastructure and alternative energy to create jobs and get the country moving again.

Terry McAuliffe, who earlier this year was trying to beat Obama on behalf of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, told students at Cosby High School that President Bush is ultimately responsible for the economic chaos.

McAuliffe was chairman of Clinton’s unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. A close ally of former President Bill Clinton, he was chairman of the DNC from 2001 to 2005.

McAuliffe took Obama’s side at a presidential forum sponsored by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Chesterfield public schools and the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. Selected seniors from Cosby and other high schools in the county who have been studying the presidential campaigns asked questions of McAuliffe.

Former Gov. and Sen. George Allen represented Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee, at the forum a week ago. Thomas A. Silvestri, president and publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, was moderator for both forums.
Unlike a week ago, when they were mostly silent, the students applauded McAuliffe frequently.

McAuliffe said Obama would raise taxes on people with incomes above $250,000, but lower taxes for 95 percent of taxpayers.

Young people should back Obama because he is proposing doubling the tuition tax credit to $4,000, McAuliffe said.

Asked what he thought the first thing Obama would do if elected president, McAuliffe said he would bring the troops home from Iraq. Obama has said he wants all combat troops out of Iraq in 16 months.

Known as one of the Democratic Party’s most successful fundraisers, McAuliffe once wrestled an alligator to raise $15,000 for the party.

He urged the young people to get involved in politics.

“If you want to change the world, you can’t sit on the sidelines and complain,” he said.

In answer to questions, he said Obama supports affirmative action and, perhaps, would extend it to class as well as race. He said Obama also thinks women should have pay equal to men’s and sponsored legislation in the Senate to allow women to challenge court rulings against equal pay for women.

McAuliffe, 51, who lives in McLean, is considering seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2009. He said he will make a decision after the Nov. 4 election, but he indicated he likely would run.

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or twhitley@timesdispatch.com

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