McAuliffe Campaign Announces Endorsements from Virginia Blogger, Commonwealth Democratic Leaders

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe received the endorsement of Virginia blogger Ben Tribbett and former lieutenant governor candidate Jon Bowerbank, as well as Democratic leaders from across the state.

The McAuliffe campaign this morning released a video from Tribbett announcing his endorsement of McAuliffe's candidacy and discussing his support. That video can be found here.

Tribbett runs the blog Not Larry Sabato, the most widely read political blog in the Commonwealth. McAuliffe has previously been endorsed by the three co-founders of the Draft Jim Webb movement, bloggers Lee Diamond, Josh Chernila, and Lowell Feld.

Former lieutenant governor candidate Jon Bowerbank, citing McAuliffe's experience and leadership, elaborated on his endorsement in a statement to the campaign. "Terry's got big ideas for Virginia's future and I believe he's got the experience to deliver-- on job creation and making our Commonwealth a leader on green technologies," said Bowerbank. "At a time when so many families across the Commonwealth are struggling, Terry can help bring people from across the Commonwealth together to get our economy back on track. I look forward to working with him, and I strongly endorse his candidacy for Governor."

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Great News

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

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This Time, McAuliffe Is Selling Himself

National Journal
May 23, 2009
by Jennifer Skalka

When he turned 52 early this year, Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe -- glad-handing former rainmaker of the Democratic National Committee and permanent First Friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton -- fittingly celebrated with a fundraiser lightly disguised as a birthday party. Old pals, including such famous-for-Washington types as lawyer Richard Ben-Veniste and former Rep. Tom McMillen, turned out for the Macker, as he's known.

In the middle of the room stood a five-tier confection -- bright blue and decorated with cardinals, the state bird. A McAuliffe-looking figurine, but blonder, stood atop the cake, which had the state's motto, Sic semper tyrannis (Thus always to tyrants), draped across it. But when the time came for guests to dive in, a waiter instead delivered ready-to-eat slices of some other goodie from a back room.

Was the strange, towering creation for real? Without dragging a finger through the Technicolor frosting, it was impossible to tell. But as the irrepressible party pitchman-turned-candidate closes in on his first-ever primary, the mystery dessert makes an easy metaphor for what Old Dominion voters must decide about his gold-plated campaign. "If you're lookin' for the same old thing, I'm not your guy to go to Richmond," the transplanted New Yorker, who has developed a new habit of dropping his g's, told well-wishers.

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Weekly Blog Roundup 5/22/09

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

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

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

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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.

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All the way to the moon

This race is getting heated - and it's moving at lightning speed. While Terry continued to communicate his positive vision for growing Virginia's economy at yesterday's final debate in Annandale, Brian Moran launched the first TV attack ad of the race, and a firestorm of criticism erupted in the aftermath of his false radio spot.

You've built this campaign from the ground up. And with just 20 days to go, I want to make sure you don't miss a beat.

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Va. Candidates Clash In Final Debate of Democratic Primary

The Washington Post
May 20, 2009
By Anita Kumar and Rosalind S. Helderman

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls R. Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran sought to isolate rival Terry McAuliffe in the final debate of the primary campaign yesterday by trying to portray him as someone who has exaggerated his business record, inflated his campaign promises and dissembled about his campaign contributors.

"Tell me, Terry, how is this a credible, positive campaign? And how will Virginia voters trust that you'll care about their jobs and creating any new jobs?" Moran asked pointedly.

With three weeks to the June 9 primary, the debate mirrored the closing themes of a hard-fought campaign, with McAuliffe maintaining his role as the center of attention as he wages an outsider bid to become the Democratic standard-bearer in a general election race against Republican Robert F. McDonnell.

After absorbing repeated jabs, McAuliffe dismissed the critiques as "divisive politics of destruction that people are sick and tired of," and he asked his opponents to redouble their efforts to focus on ideas so the party can emerge from the primary united.

"That's what Democratic primaries are all about," he said.

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"No, He Can't"

Virginia Tomorrow
May 19, 2009
By Bob Holsworth

That’s the message that Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran are sending about Terry McAuliffe’s ideas in a Democratic primary contest that is becoming increasingly personal.

McAuliffe has portrayed himself as an outsider who wants to bring “big ideas” to Virginia and shake up the political system.

Change the Dillon rule. Develop a more aggressive strategy and incentive structure for pursuing major business relocations. Make Virginia into a leader for renewable energy. More jobs will be produced in Virginia than anywhere else.

It’s an idea a day. And McAuliffe’s the hopemonger-in-chief.

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Rivals Take Aim at McAuliffe in Final Primary Debate

May 19th, 2009
The Washington Post
Anita Kumar

Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls R. Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran sought to isolate Terry McAuliffe in the final debate among the three primary candidates today by repeatedly and vigorously attacking him on his credibility.

Deeds and Moran accused McAuliffe of promising too much to too many, charged that he exaggerated claims about his business record and suggested he had hidden the truth about his campaign donations.

"These are the divisive politics of destruction that people are sick and tired of," McAuliffe said. "We need a healthy discussion on the issues," he added, defending his record and calling the charges untrue.

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McAuliffe Releases New Ad Defending Record of Saving and Creating Jobs

Today, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe released a new ad emphasizing his record of saving and creating jobs in response to a negative ad from the Moran campaign.

"It's very telling that Brian Moran is once again relying on negative and misleading attacks against Terry in his first television ad," McAuliffe spokeswoman Lis Smith said. "Terry is running on his strong record of creating thousands of jobs-a record verified by the Washington Post today. In these troubling economic times, Virginians are looking for a governor with the right experience to create jobs and get our economy back on track - someone with a positive vision for Virginia's future - not someone focused making misleading and negative attacks." The Washington Post story can be found at http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2009/05/mcauliffe_i_created_thousands.html.

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