McAuliffe Starts VA Charm Offensive

He's got the charm, cash and connections, but now the consummate Democratic pitchman is facing his toughest sales job in Virginia.

Terry McAuliffe swept through Hillary Rodham Clinton's downbeat Arlington headquarters in May like a rich daddy returning from a business trip, spiriting off young staffers to Cafe Milano in Georgetown for a veal-and-vino cheerleading dinner. ...

McAuliffe's central strategy is classic Terry-buys-the-drinks: He's planning an ambitious fundraising campaign on behalf of Virginia's Democratic establishment, which has been emboldened by Barack Obama's victory and two consecutive Democratic governors (governors in the state are limited to one four-year term) but frustrated by a six-seat GOP majority in the House of Delegates, the lower of the state's two legislative houses.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[schicklett3]

I don't think he has a chance of winning. Nada, nope, no way.

[Agentlady007]

I'm still waiting for that meeting with you "under the stars", Terry...

[nanotubz]

The Va Dems would like McAuliffe to take a hike along the Appalachian to its end, and stay there. Pretty boy is doing this on his own. But he will be able to raise money. His problem is his own prty in Va has no use for him, just his money.

[pmolloy4]

What good is a prodigious fundraiser if he's a professional election loser?

I realize he's popular among some camps within the party (for reasons that continue to elude me), but if Mr. "Fly-over State", all-talk-and-no-victories McAuliffe wants to ensure that a Democrat wins the gubernatorial race in Virginia, he should run as a Republican.

[EndangeredJackalope]

To Editors:

hey, there's are word-choice and structural errors is your title..

headline should read "McAuliffe Starts Offensive Smooze in VA"

[EndangeredJackalope]

And here I thought the Democrats had finally shook their appetite for losing...

From Northern Va (DC metro): go away...

Non-metro VA is too stubborn and conservative to vote for you, and metro Va (what you're expecting to win overshadow the rest of the state) is too smart to vote for you.

Go to Florida, or TV pundit-land, or wherever political relics go to collect dust.

[Scandalouscandice5]

Dear Virginia,

Shut him down.

Love,

Scandalous Candice

[txgal44]

What a big mouth. He go on my last nerve during the primary. Do Virginian's deserve that?

[Skeptiqone]

Why would Tim Kaine not be running for re election? He is only in his first term.

[SCVADem]

"two consecutive Democratic governors (governors in the state are limited to one four-year term) "

The Virginia Constitution limits governors to one four-year term, though they can run again after the next governor serves a term.

[Titus Pullo]

I agree on Terry. Leftover Clintonites are hard to get off the phone; they keep going, and going and going ...

The problem in VA is easy: only the north (DC metro area) and the college towns are blue. Anywhere else you toss a dart you're in deer hunting country with a sprinkling of gentrified liberal transplants. Turnout for McCain/Palin was actually not bad historically speaking, but it simply wasn't enough. Turning those outlying districts blue is a lot harder for house races. Terry needs antlers.

[EndangeredJackalope]

I've lived in Northern Va (DC metro) for 16 years with my family. We moved here when my dad became and executive officer at the AFL-CIO. My folks were democratic socialists growing up, have always voted democrat, and they, as well my sister and I, all have careers in public service.

There is no way on Earth that we would vote for McAuliffe.

We are far from loyal Virginians (yes, there really is a real and a 'fake' Virginia), but even we wouldn't support this carpet bagging relic from the 'Clintonian age.'

Va swung (and not by much) for Obama b/c they liked him, and disliked the GOP, enough to comfortable handle the switch. NoVa probably has on average the most intelligent and well-educated population in the country - the swing was reasoned, not a mob responce. Moreover, VA is a stable economy with long-standing good health and stability - we don't mind which party has the Governor's mansion, and we're not an Appalachian welfare pit that is scared, desperate and dumb enough to elect a stump-friendly stranger (just look at Tim Kaine - brains and sincerity trump charisma here.)

There is no new party loyalty coattails here for you ride in on.

I'm disgusted just thinking about this 'colostomy' bag pumping up a fevered "smile" and jarring people with manic handshakes.

Go away.

[shengirl]

By your assessment, Va. should not have two back to back [and very popular] Dem governors, and now two Dem Senators. Richmond is hardly "deer hunting country", but I'm sure you've been there many times. But I agree about "Terry." Go away.

[SCVADem]

It's called "schmoozing", not "charm". And we in Virginia don't like to be "schmoozed".

[brouhaha8]

Good bye Virginia. We just couldn't stem the flood of dbags from New ENgland could we?

[mommadona]

Dear Virginia...

I'm so sorry.
He was supposed to stay in the Florida Keys where the rum is.
Really, you can put him in the back yard if he gets to annoying.
Again, my apologies.

[dct1999]

Charm? LMAO!

[000Jade000]

Whatever Terry starts is often offensive.