McAuliffe's wife: Cuccinelli 'will have me to answer to'

(CNN) – Dorothy McAuliffe is standing by her man, Terry McAuliffe, after Republican critics have attacked the Virginia gubernatorial candidate for not being the best husband based on some anecdotes in his book.

In his 2007 memoir, "What a Party," the former Democratic National Committee chairman details times when his job kept him busy, like when he left his wife in the car to attend a fundraiser on the way home from the hospital where she had just given birth.

The book also gives an account where Dorothy apparently instructed McAuliffe to go to a Washington Post party while she was in labor because McAuliffe was going "stir-crazy" and driving his wife "nuts." So he went.

And when Dorothy was in labor with their son in 1993, McAuliffe got into a near-shouting match with her doctor about health care reform, according to an excerpt from the book.

Some Republicans, including the Republican National Committee and Republican Governors Association, have used the passages to criticize McAuliffe through social media.

Meanwhile, spokespersons for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican candidate, have highlighted articles about the excerpts via Twitter.

But Dorothy McAuliffe responded in a statement Friday, saying she was "surprised" that Republicans had "latched" onto the anecdotes. "Terry and I had a lot of fun writing the book; it was a great opportunity to relive some of the experiences we've had in our over 25 years together."

"While Terry has always been there for me, I can stand on my own two feet and say that Mr. Cuccinelli should know that he will have me to answer to if he wants to intrude on our family life for political attacks," she later added.

Praising McAuliffe as a "wonderful husband and devoted father," she said McAuliffe receives wide support from women on the campaign trail.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday indicated McAuliffe indeed had more support among women, 47%-33%, than his opponent. Cuccinelli, however, carries men, 44%-38%.

Among all registered voters, McAuliffe has a slight advantage over Cuccinelli, 43% – 38% in the Quinnipiac poll, and a small 43%-41% advantage in a recent NBC/Marist poll. When looking at likely voters, however, the race flips with Cuccinelli jumping ahead, 45% to 42%, in the NBC/Marist survey.

A Washington Post poll taken earlier this month, however, showed Cuccinelli ahead of McAuliffe, 46%-41%, among registered voters.

Responding to Dorothy McAuliffe's defense of her husband's book, Cuccinelli's senior campaign strategist Chris LaCivita said: "With all due respect, those aren't our words. Those are Terry's words in his own voice."

The winner of November's showdown will succeed Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell.

- CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley contributed to this report.