You got what I need

We've got just 27 days until the primary, and our campaign's momentum is growing daily. We're preparing to launch our Get-Out-the-Vote operation, which will be the largest, most sophisticated, and most targeted effort ever organized by a Virginia gubernatorial campaign. And I wanted to drop you a line and give you a quick update.

On the road with Terry

On Monday, the campaign got an injection of star power as Terry made four stops around the Commonwealth with his good friend, will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, who created the "Yes We Can" video for Barack Obama that was viewed by millions. Terry and will talked about the importance of bringing new voters into the political process, and the need to have a governor who can partner with President Obama to create the jobs of the future.

Click here to read more.

Friday Governors Line: A "Once in a Generation" Election

April 3, 2009
The Washington Post
Chris Cillizza

10. Virginia (D controlled-2009): It's tough to handicap this race until June 10 when we know the identity of the Democratic nominee. Former Democratic National Committee Chairman 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 Post's Virginia governor's race page has everything you could want on this contest.)

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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!

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McAuliffe Unveils Plan to Increase Accountability and Transparency

Gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe today unveiled his plan to strengthen transparency and accountability in state government and the private sector. McAuliffe proposed a ban on all lobbyist gifts to lawmakers and the executive branch, strengthening transparency by making our state budget more accessible and easy to understand, as well as fostering corporate accountability by strengthening ethics programs.

"As we work to grow our economy and create jobs across the Commonwealth, we must lead by example and demonstrate to taxpayers that their money is being spent fairly and wisely," McAuliffe said. "That's why I've pledged not to take any corporate contributions from companies or their corporate PACs receiving taxpayer-funded TARP money and to donate my salary as governor."

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Deeds-McAuliffe-Moran Agree to 5 Debates, 3 Joint Appearances Across Virginia

Today, Democratic gubernatorial candidates Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe, and Brian Moran announced that, pending format negotiations, they have accepted and would participate in 5 debates across the Commonwealth, as well as 3 joint appearances. Deeds campaign manager Joe Abbey, McAuliffe campaign manager Mike Henry, and Moran general consultant Steve Jarding released the following joint statement on the announcement of the debates:

"We are pleased to announce this debate and joint appearance schedule in the run-up to the June 9th primary to pick our next Democratic Governor of Virginia. Our campaigns worked together to schedule as many joint appearances and debates as possible all across the Commonwealth. Our candidates – Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe, and Brian Moran – look forward to having several spirited debates on the important issues facing Virginians."

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McAuliffe Files 17,243 Signatures with State Board of Elections

Today, thanking his volunteers and supporters across the Commonwealth, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe filed 17,243 signatures with the Virginia State Board of Elections.

"I'm honored by the tremendous outpouring of grassroots support I've received across Virginia," McAuliffe said. "It's critical for us to engage the grassroots and involve as many Virginians as possible in the process of electing our next Governor. I look forward to continuing a positive debate on who has the strongest ideas and best experience to get Virginia's economy back on track."

Click here to read more.

A Comprehensive, Long-Term Plan for Virginia's Energy Future

I've spent a lot of time traveling the Commonwealth, listening to Virginians tell me what's on their minds. And one thing I’ve noticed is that the people who are dealing with challenges day to day often have the best ideas about how to overcome them. Too often we see the same old policies come from the top-down. But not all good ideas come out of Richmond. They come from all corners of the Commonwealth.

That’s why I’ve spent the past several weeks asking you – online, and at economic roundtables all over Virginia – what would you do if you were governor?

Today. I’m unveiling the first chapter of my Business Plan to get Virginia’s economy moving, and I’ve incorporated a lot of great ideas that I heard from you.

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Birthday Card for McAuliffe

Virginia Pilot Online
Lauren King
February 8th, 2009

Terry McAuliffe is turning 52 this week and his wife, Dorothy, is asking supporters to sign an online card in celebration.

In an e-mail sent Friday, she said this year feels special with her husband running for governor, rather than working on a campaign for someone else.

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Putting Out Fires and Making GOTV Calls for Sharon Bulova

This afternoon, over 50 volunteers poured into our headquarters to make calls for Sharon Bulova. Sharon is a great Democrat running for Chair of the Fairfax Board of Supervisors. The volunteers here today have already made over 10,000 calls, and everyone was energized by helping a good Democrat get elected in Fairfax County.

But the energy in the room exploded when Terry came in to make calls himself. Terry rallied the volunteers and talked about how important it is that Sharon win this election on Tuesday. The stakes in this race are high – Sharon will use her 21 years of experience to support better mass transit, preserve our environment, and keep our property taxes low. Her opponent has opposed progress at every turn – even the Dulles rail project. With the kind of challenges we face in Fairfax, we just cannot afford an approach that takes us backwards.

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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!

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McDonnell, McAuliffe Square Off in Fairfax Race

Washington Post
Tim Craig
January 28, 2009

The first battle of the 2009 general election campaign for governor will take place next week when voters in Fairfax County go to the polls to elect a new board chairman.

Emboldened by the near victory of a GOP House candidate in heavily Democratic Alexandria earlier this month, Virginia Republicans are hoping Fairfax Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) can defeat his Democratic opponent, Supervisor Sharon S. Bulova (Braddock), in the chairman’s race.

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McAuliffe Campaign Releases First Television Ad: "Listened"

Today, Terry McAuliffe’s campaign for governor released its first television advertisement in Hampton Roads. The 30-second spot, titled “Listened,” highlights ideas on strengthening the region’s economy that McAuliffe has heard from people as he’s traveled across Hampton Roads. Emphasizing that the best ideas don’t always come out of Richmond, McAuliffe discusses his lifetime experience of creating jobs and his focus on getting Virginia’s economy back on track.

“I’ve spent four decades building businesses and creating jobs,” McAuliffe says in the ad. “Now, I’m running for Governor because I know we can create thousands more right here. I’ll make it my job to protect your job – and get Virginia’s economy moving.

Click here to watch the ad.

Our First TV Ad

I’m excited to announce that we’re launching our first television ad of the campaign. In this 30-second spot, Terry champions some of the ideas he’s heard from folks in Hampton Roads about how to help the region’s economy.

Terry’s heard great ideas from every corner of the Commonwealth during his travels, but too many people in the legislature just aren’t listening. In the coming weeks, we’re going to communicate directly with voters across Virginia about the issues that hit home with them.

Click here to watch the ad.

A Must Read

The campaign’s just 15 days old, but we’ve clearly got the momentum on our side. This morning, the Washington Post‘s Tim Craig highlighted some of the things we’ve accomplished, and I wanted to make sure you had a chance read his article.

Noting our “sophisticated, media-savvy approach,” Craig wrote that, “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.”

Read more.

Richmond Veterans Face Steep Climb to Governor's Office

Washington Post
By Tim Craig
January 22, 2009

During this year’s campaign for governor of Virginia, one piece of trivia that will probably be invoked is that since Jimmy Carter was elected president in 1976, the party that has won the White House has lost the state’s race for governor the next year.

But here is another tidbit that might be more relevant in this year’s contest: Since 1957, no delegate or state senator has won the nomination for governor without first leaving the General Assembly to serve in a higher office.

In Virginia, where governors can run for only one term, major party nominees in modern times have been sitting or former lieutenant governors, attorneys general, congressmen or businessmen.

Brian Moran (D), who resigned last month from the House of Delegates to focus on fundraising, and state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) are hoping to buck that trend. But first, they have to get past Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

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McAuliffe Pitches Green Jobs to Spur Economy

Fauquier Times-Democrat
By Dan Roem
January 21, 2009

Perhaps it’s not fair to boil Terry McAuliffe’s candidacy for governor down to a single issue.

But the dominate message of McAuliffe’s relatively brief candidacy is economic revitalization through job creation.

“You want jobs, you want benefits,” McAuliffe told a small group of prospective voters at Foster’s Grille in Old Town Manassas earlier this month. “You want a good education.”

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McAuliffe: Economy, education are the keys

Powhatan Today
By Michael Copley
Jan 21, 2009

About 15 county residents filled the back room of the Village Garden Café Jan. 13, for a town hall meeting with Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, a democrat from McLean, Va.

McAuliffe, 51, shook hands with those in attendance and made a few remarks before opening the floor for questions.

“Everyone is nervous about the economy,” he said, “and I think 2009 will be the worst year since the Great Depression.”

McAuliffe hails from a business background — “I’m from outside the legislature,” he admitted — and his focus Tuesday centered on bolstering a failing economy by creating new jobs.

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