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Clinton Campaign Chairman McAuliffe Rallies Va. with Good News from Pa.
Standing before a friendly gathering at the College of William and Mary on Tuesday, Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, was the happiest worried person in the room. Just hours before the second debate between Obama and McCain was set to begin, the Dow was plummeting again. "I feel sorry for you," he told the 40 or so students in the room."It's a hard economy right now. Nobody can buy a house, nobody can buy a car, and they're cutting back on your credit card limits."
McAuliffe was smiling anyway, nearly bouncing with characteristic optimism. "Look," he said, "I'd rather become a CEO with a company that's down than become a CEO with a company that's running high."
Nowhere to go but up.
And, as McAuliffe pointed out, things were definitely looking up for Obama. Most notably, his poll numbers were up in Pennsylvania, where McAuliffe had just returned from helping to kick off canvassing efforts. "There were an extraordinary number of people coming out," he said.
Obama was also up in Ohio, in Florida, in New Hampshire. "And he's up in Virginia," he said. "And that's in a state where a democrat hasn't won a presidential race since 1964."
Yet things were looking down, too. Maybe not for Obama, but for the country as a whole. That's why the question-and-answer session felt a little somber. One student studying law wondered how graduate students can get health insurance. To enroll in the law school at William and Mary, she'd had to prove she had health insurance. But as a young adult, she'd found the insurance hard to afford.
Under Obama, McAuliffe told her, she'd be able to buy insurance from a common pool.
An older woman wanted to know about Medicare. With the federal deficit increasing by the day, would there be any money left for her?
McAuliffe had bad news for her. As the population ages, he said, "Medicare is going to explode. That's why we have to put our finances in order."
"But," he added, "if you're over 65 and you make less than $55,000 a year, Obama will see that you pay no taxes."
The woman turned to her friend sitting next to her. "Oh good!" she said, "That's me!"
It was that kind of afternoon. Bad news mixed with a few ounces of hope and optimism. Would McCain run a negative campaign, now that the race is down to the wire?
"It's going to be ugly," McAuliffe said. "They're not going to give up the White House easily."
Were there still a lot of Hillary supporters who wouldn't support Obama?
McAuliffe's eyes lit up on that one. "Look. She got 18 million votes. Out of those, 17.99 -something are all for Barack.** It's just those last few who get on TV."
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**The original version mistakenly read "18,000 votes."
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Welcome back Terry, where have you been ?
Terry McAuliffe is a gregarious, decent person who is able to move on and support the democratic ticket.
Unlike Mark Penn and Ted Stevens's lawyer Lanny Davis - Terry McAuliffe is a heart and soul Democrat who believes passionately in Universal Healthcare, Women's Rights, taking care of the working & middle classes & bringing the troops home from Iraq.
Wouldn't it be great if Bill Clinton and Barack Obama started making joint campaign appearances together ?
It would also be wonderful to see Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton forming a double act.
My husband and I love you, Terry!
My husband, a staunch Obama boy, and I, a steadfast Hillary girl, used to bicker ALL the time during the primary. One thing, though, we agreed on was how we both liked you, Terry! My husband thought that you were a real general and kept saying how nice it would be if you were to speak for Obama as well! I just had to agree! His dream came true ^^!!
Now we are hoping both of our dreams come true, on Nov 4th!
That One '08
p.s. Nov 4th 2008 is our 10th anniversary. We are planning some serious celebration that night! Whoo-Hoo!
Back in the primaries, Terry used to really get my dander up with his GREAT job he did with Hillary. He's a pro, and has been an incredible asset to the Obama and Biden ticket. When he decided to commit, he committed wholeheartedly. What a professional!!!
uh, that's 18 million as in 18,000,000. And Terry was here in VA. I would have went to see him when he came here but I was out of town. He's doing a good job.
LOL!
Good ole Terry is back!
:D
Terry, this is refreshing. Be assured that after Obama is elected our next POTUS, I will volunteer to march down to Virginia and make sure to become the next Governor. We need to turn that state blue because there are a lot of patriots who thought they were supporting a good cause by voting Republican only to find out now that they have been voting for their slow death.
Me too!
That's refreshing!!! i couldn't stand the guy during the primaries.
Finally, something to really LIKE about Terry.
Keep it up!
The change is something we still need to fight for.
Obama & Biden in 08
Speaking of the Clintons, where the heck have they gone? Seem to have dropped like a stone from public view. Almost as if the Obama campaign finally figured out Bill's damning with faint praise and throwing bouquets at Sen. McCain wasn't working out so well. Could it be that dreams of the Clintons' future in politics have turned in to a fairy tale?
Does anyone really care?
The Clintons were finished in politics when Bill lied to the Americans who elected him and was consequently disbarred due to lying under oath.
Clinton was never disbarred. That is a GOP smear. His law license in Arkansas was suspended for 5 years and that time period has long expired.
HRC has been working for Obama. She has raised money for Obama. We are getting more than anyone could ever expect from Hillary and we should be thankful. Bill and Hillary will continue working for Obama in the coming week. I cannot fault them for being bitter; it was a hard fought race and they did not win.
Funny how Mc is using the same tactics that Hill used. He is bound to fail.
They're around. TPM had an article about them stumping with Biden in Ohio (or was it Virginia).
Sen. Clinton, a long time friend of Sen. Joe Biden, generously filled in for him at his request when he took time off for Jill Biden's mother's passing.
all for one one for all!
OBAMA/BIDEN 08
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