May 14, 2009
Posted: May 14th, 2009 05:00 AM ET

From
Bill Clinton is helping former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe campaign for governor in Virginia.
Bill Clinton is helping former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe campaign for governor in Virginia.

HERNDON, Virginia (CNN) – To hear Bill Clinton tell it, Terry McAuliffe is destined to become the 71st governor of the commonwealth of Virginia.

“He was born to lead at this moment,” Clinton said of McAuliffe at a campaign rally in northern Virginia on Wednesday. It was the former president’s third appearance on behalf of his friend and longtime political ally, who is now in the final weeks of a tough three-way primary battle for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

The winner of that contest will face Republican Bob McDonnell, the state’s former attorney general, in the general election.

Clinton praised McAuliffe from all angles, making sure to plug the former Democratic National Committee chairman’s apparent mastery of Virginia issues. McAuliffe has struggled with the perception that he’s a newcomer to Virginia politics, while his two Democratic rivals have labored in the trenches of state government for more than a decade.

The former president even said that if every child were raised as McAuliffe’s five children were, “this country would have about half the problems it’s got.”

Clinton and McAuliffe made their pitch to about 200 voters at a park in the northern Virginia town of Herndon, standing on a stage just downwind of a ripe-smelling pig sty. They held a second, larger rally later in the day a few miles away in the Washington suburb of Annandale.

Clinton stressed that if elected, McAuliffe will be “socially progressive” but also fiscally responsible. “Everyone knows that this guy raised a lot of money for me,” Clinton said. “What I want you to know, every nickel he raised, he also talked to me about how to be careful spending it.”

He also said that McAuliffe has the work ethic to help President Barack Obama’s economic recovery plan achieve its goals.

“I think it was a good package and I supported it,” Clinton said of the president’s $787 billion stimulus bill. “But how well it works will vary from state to state, depending on the leadership the vision and the ability to follow through of the governor.”

The candidate himself spoke after Clinton and outlined his plans for renewable energy, transportation, education and job creation. He promised to bring a fresh perspective to the state house in Richmond.

McAuliffe said McDonnell - who is framing himself as pragmatic, solutions-oriented conservative - has “an ideological agenda” and criticized him for having campaigned with national Republicans like John McCain and Rudy Giuliani.

“They just announced they’re bringing Sarah Palin in,” he added, a claim that drew boos from the audience.

However, a spokesman for McDonnell denied that the Alaska governor will be campaigning in Virginia.

Filed under: Bill Clinton • Bob McDonnell • Terry McAuliffe • Virginia


Ryan Indianapolis   May 14th, 2009 9:59 am ET

I love it when Democrats demonize Bush and Cheney and say they do not have any class or are "EVIL People" . But yet there role models are Bill Clinton and John Edwards and Ted Kennedy? You people really have no clue do you. Your role models are the scum of the earth, I would take GW and his Class over any of those dirtbags any day of the week.

StormerF   May 14th, 2009 9:55 am ET

Clinton needs to go home and retire,take his buddy Carter with him.What is doing anyway??Maube he is going to tell us why were attacked 4 times on his watch and he did nothing??

Bob in Pa   May 14th, 2009 9:54 am ET

Oh, so the rest of us don't know how to raise children huh Bill? All the problems in this country are caused by us little peons out here ?

Lee, Ann Arbor, Michigan   May 14th, 2009 9:52 am ET

Terry McAuliffe is JUST as slippery and sleazy as "slick Willy." They are peas in a pod.

Jerry   May 14th, 2009 9:42 am ET

Robert E. Lee must be spinning in his grave at this prospect.

Jeff in Virginia   May 14th, 2009 9:39 am ET

Love ya Bill, but you're not doing the right thing here. Just because your top money man wants to be a governor somewhere doesn't

mean you should tarnish your legacy by schilling for him.

As the head of the DNC, McAuliffe presided over the worst hemorrhaging of Democratic congresspersons in the past century. He puts

personal ambition and partisan politics above all else.

This is not the kind of executive that Virginia wants or needs. Please Bill, just leave this one be.

Jean   May 14th, 2009 9:38 am ET

Sarah Palin is on all their brains.

Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA   May 14th, 2009 9:34 am ET

More like "born to pander" to the likes of Shrillary. It defies belief how politipimps like McAuliffe presume to be ready to govern when they've never done anything close to it.

Rob   May 14th, 2009 9:33 am ET

Yeah, born to lead Virginia....right into the ground. But go ahead Virginia, you want to ruin your state? Vote him in then.

Rose   May 14th, 2009 9:33 am ET

No, Clinton has it wrong. A NATIVE Virginian and 20-year State Senator, CREIGH DEEDS, was born to lead Virginia.

Republicans are the American Taliban   May 14th, 2009 9:28 am ET

Hi, I'm Republican Bob McDonnell, the state’s former attorney. I'm running for Governor here now. If you elect me, I promise to be mean and hateful. I'll vote NO on anything proposed by those socialist Democrats that might benefit our state. My true allegiance of course, will be to a radio shock jock, and not any of you fools that vote for me. I promise to threaten to succeed from the union, and support wearing teabags on our heads. I will spend my day texting, and sending Twitters, instead of working and earing my salary. So vote for me BOB...if you don't, you're not a true American.....

phoenix86   May 14th, 2009 9:24 am ET

ACORN just got over $8 billion in federal tax dollars. That's plenty to buy Virginia.

U.S. Common Sense   May 14th, 2009 9:23 am ET

Virginians will vote for Deeds before they vote for an outsider like Terry.

phoenix86   May 14th, 2009 9:21 am ET

Bill, please go hunting with Cheney.

mike   May 14th, 2009 9:18 am ET

"Good Ole Boy" Terry is a democrat stooge, he is about as much a Virginian as Hillary was a New Yorker.... both carpet bagging political pontificating blowhards whose qualifications for their political jobs are suspect at best.

NVa Native   May 14th, 2009 9:13 am ET

Brian Moran is getting my vote. He's worked hard for Virginians when the local Repub mafia was comfortable in the state house. He knows how to handle the thugs.

Another dream speech   May 14th, 2009 9:11 am ET

So he had to lie about Palin to get his supporters fired up and make himself look better with empty words and outright lies. Typical politician, I'm sure he'll take Virginia by a landslide in this climate of sheeple.

WI Cheesehead   May 14th, 2009 9:10 am ET

Cheney’s arrogance will not let him keep his mouth shut. When he was VP all he ever said was he doesn’t have to explain anything because he’s only answerable to the George W. Now all over a sudden he wants our lending ears. Sad to say but Cheney is busy preaching “the end justifies the means” summon and sure enough he has an audience for that kind of talk. But then again he might just be jealous of his cousin Obama being POTUS. One advice for Cheney: Don’t shoot your friends anymore you don’t have executive privileges anymore.

Billy boy   May 14th, 2009 9:08 am ET

I wonder if Bill will show Terry how to properly 'season' those cigars? And he has the nerve to joke about Cheney? He should be sittong in the corner with John Edwards with his mouth closed.

Dino   May 14th, 2009 9:07 am ET

More economic bad news this morning. Middle of the road Democrats like Clinton and Obama suck. I voted for Obama but I am a progreissive. Obama is a sell out. He hires the same Pro-Wall Street team tha Bush used to trash the economy. He won't even pursue the Bush criminals that participated in torture. What a joke.

I will vote Green or Independent next time. Good luck, Dems. Keep shooting yourselves in the foot. Ha!

Nancy   May 14th, 2009 9:06 am ET

Go Bill!
Someone needs to start hitting on Cheney!
You are just the man to do it! We love you Bill!
And Hillary and Barrack! All of you will make a
great team..I was just saying last night that
someone needs to tell Cheney he is out of
office now.

This liberal not for Obama   May 14th, 2009 9:00 am ET

I couldn't ve said it better myself. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe!

Obama - NOPE   May 14th, 2009 8:59 am ET

Will this self-serving slob never get off the stage?

awaitingliberalizationbyCNN   May 14th, 2009 8:48 am ET

This smarmy, immoral liar has no right to talk about anyone else in a derogatory manner. So happy is campaining for the equally smarmy and disgusting McAullife. There are two poster boys for the dems.

Larry S   May 14th, 2009 8:41 am ET

Who cares what Clinton thinks? He is a 'has been' . . . we need to be worrying about the spending and bad decisions of the curremt BO group.

Kevin in Ohio   May 14th, 2009 8:40 am ET

Go away, Bill.

Jeff in Virginia   May 14th, 2009 8:33 am ET

Love ya Bill, but you're not doing the right thing here. Just because your top money man wants to be a governor somewhere doesn't mean you should tarnish your legacy by schilling for him.

As the head of the DNC, McAuliffe presided over the worst hemorrhaging of Democratic congresspersons in the past century. He puts personal ambition and partisan politics above all else.

This is not the kind of executive that Virginia wants or needs. Please Bill, just leave this one be.

munchmom   May 14th, 2009 8:32 am ET

Let's hope not-if he's anything like Bill, then Virginia is definitely in trouble!

Steve, Columbia SC   May 14th, 2009 8:32 am ET

Last thing we need in Virginia is someone "born" to lead the state...............sounds just like the Clinton elitist mantra............

Bubba   May 14th, 2009 8:31 am ET

Too bad they had to make the first speech in a Republican stronghold.

Mike Mundy, Houston, TX   May 14th, 2009 8:24 am ET

Barf! He wasn't born to lead! Terry is a big, goofy, nerd!

Linda   May 14th, 2009 8:23 am ET

"Clinton and McAuliffe made their pitch to about 200 voters at a park in the northern Virginia town of Herndon, standing on a stage just downwind of a ripe-smelling pig sty. "

Come on, don't blame that stench on the pigs; we know where it was really coming from.

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   May 14th, 2009 8:20 am ET

Terry McAuliffe talks a good game, but I'm not voting for him unless he gets the nomination.

dominican mama 4 Obama   May 14th, 2009 8:07 am ET

I loved that zinger that teflon Bill setn Cheney about sticking to target practice! lol! I would suggest that Cheney and fam take a long vacation in Spain.

Lolbama   May 14th, 2009 8:04 am ET

I certainly hope that Virginia is more than for lovers and is wise enough to bounce that crook McAuliffe...truly a bum's bum

hongli   May 14th, 2009 7:50 am ET

What will be will be. Bill Clinton was,is and will always be a "GUIDING LIGHT".

TCM   May 14th, 2009 7:49 am ET

Clinton's an idiot...why would anyone, other than a liberal, want to listen to him? Hillary shows no depth as a human whatsoever; after being publicly humiliated by him and that tramp Monica...they both strut around like they're royalty. Funny, how the libs in this country except such a lack of morals for their leaders.

Gerald   May 14th, 2009 7:33 am ET

Bill the piller of upstanding morals giving advice , talk about some one given a pass, this is absurd.

Todd   May 14th, 2009 7:27 am ET

McAuliffe simply is not the person to govern the Commonwealth of VA. My vote will not be cast for this candidate...

CHERYL IN FLORIDA   May 14th, 2009 7:05 am ET

I LOVE Bill Clinton!
He was a great President!

Enough Billy   May 14th, 2009 6:58 am ET

You want to know why Hillary's campaign "crashed and burned"? Add Terry's name to Wolfson, Penn, Davis and more. Now we have governors by birth and "divine right". Don't think so, Bubba, but then you we're a real asset last year in South Carolina weren't you?

When CLINTON is Making Fun of You… « Deep Brain Diary   May 14th, 2009 5:58 am ET

[...] sad, political clown! "I wish him well," Clinton told CNN while greeting voters after a campaign stop with Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe. "It's over," he added, apparently a reference to the Bush [...]

Willy Brown   May 14th, 2009 5:02 am ET

Virginia don't need another Clinton liberal lapdog screwing up America.

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