WASHINGTON (CNN) – Terry McAuliffe, the former Democratic National Committee chairman now seeking the Virginia governorship, is running a new advertisement on black radio stations in the commonwealth tying himself to President Obama.
The 60-second spot, which began airing Tuesday in central and southeast Virginia on urban and gospel radio stations, says that McAuliffe fought to protect voting rights for African-Americans during his tenure at the DNC.
"Terry McAuliffe defended our rights and was the leader who brought us together and united the party," says a narrator in the ad. "And in 2008 our voices were heard when we elected our president, Barack Obama."
Another female voice chimes in, promising that McAuliffe "will bring those skills to Virginia, that's the kind of leader we need."
The ad, of course, does not mention McAuliffe's outspoken backing of Hillary Clinton before the 2008 Virginia Democratic primary - a contest Obama won with the support of 90 percent of the state's African-American voters.
The radio ad is McAuliffe's second to target black voters, who will almost certainly be a crucial constituency in the June Democratic primary. One of his Democratic rivals, former House member Brian Moran, also launched a radio spot in the Hampton Roads area in February.
The new ad suggests that, for the moment, the so-called "Obama brand" continues to carry weight up and down the ballot in both parties. On Tuesday, Republican Jim Tedisco, who is running for Congress in New York's 20th Congressional District, began airing a TV ad invoking the president's bipartisan rhetoric.
"Like the president says, in these difficult times, we're not Republicans or Democrats," Tedisco says in the ad. "We're Americans, and that's the team I'm on."
Post updated at 3:00 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (CNN) – As national Democrats eagerly point to Rush Limbaugh’s influence among Republicans, one Virginia Democrat is looking to make the radio host a flash point in this year’s governor’s race.
Terry McAuliffe, the former Democratic National Committee chairman now seeking his party's nomination for governor, sent a letter Tuesday to the de facto Republican nominee, former state Attorney General Bob McDonnell, asking him to reject Limbaugh’s recent statement that he wants President Obama to fail.
“I know that you and I disagree on many issues, but I'm hoping that we can agree on this: hoping for failure isn't the right way to get our economy back on track,” McAuliffe wrote in the letter. “That's why I'm asking you to join me in condemning the remarks Rush Limbaugh made wishing for the President to fail.”
McAuliffe wrote that Virginians are concerned with getting the economy back on track and that Limbaugh’s comments are not constructive.
“I hope you'll join me in calling for Rush to start taking an approach that reflects the best of what our system stands for,” McAuliffe wrote.
McDonnell campaign spokesman Tucker Martin said McAuliffe "desperately wants our attention."
"And if he wins his competitive and tough primary in June he will get it," Martin said. "Until then, we wish him the best of luck.”
(CNN) – Could Terry McAuliffe’s hefty bank account backfire against him in the Virginia’s governor’s race? That’s certainly what one of his Democratic rivals is hoping
At the Democratic Party of Virginia’s annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner on Saturday, McAuliffe got an earful from former House member Brian Moran, who implied that the onetime DNC chairman is trying to buy the governor’s mansion by tapping his rolodex of national donors.
“We must decide what our party stands for,” Moran told the audience of activists in Richmond. “Will our party be dominated by big money and those who raise it, or will we be the party of the people?”
Before his remarks, Moran’s campaign played a video outlining his 12 years of experience in state Democratic politics. As the short movie faded to black, the phrase “Money isn’t everything” appeared on the screen, a clear shot at McAuliffe and an indication of how Moran plans to define the primary race.
(CNN) – Among the challenges Terry McAuliffe faces in his bid to become Virginia’s next governor: his lack of deep Virginia roots and limited experience in state politics. His Democratic primary opponents, former delegate Brian Moran and state senator Creigh Deeds, don’t have that problem.
Moran today will announce another local endorsement of note, this time from Dwight Jones, the new mayor of Richmond and the former chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. Jones said Moran has “a long, proven record of fighting hard for working families in Virginia.”
The city of Richmond, with its majority African-American population, has been Democratic territory for years. The former mayor of Richmond - Douglas Wilder, who was also the nation’s first black governor from 1990 to 1994 - has not endorsed a candidate in the governor’s race.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Terry McAuliffe is wasting no time putting his sizable campaign war chest to work in his effort to become Virginia’s next governor.
McAuliffe released “Listened,” his first television ad of the election cycle, Monday. The 30-second spot released Monday focuses on the economy and job creation, and is set to air in the Norfolk region.
McAuliffe is a three-way contest for the Democratic nomination against former state delegate Brian Moran and state senator Creigh Deeds. Joe Trippi, former adviser to John Edwards and Howard Dean, will be acting as a media consultant for Moran.
The winner of the Democratic nomination will face off against Republican Bob McDonnell, currently serving as Virginia’s attorney general.
– CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe is flexing his fundraising muscle in the Virginia governor's race.
McAuliffe, who began seeking for the commonwealth's top job last fall but only officially entered the race this month, revealed on Monday that he's raised almost $1 million for his campaign in just six weeks.
It took McAuliffe’s rivals for the Democratic nomination - former state delegate Brian Moran and state senator Creigh Deeds - six months to raise that amount, according to campaign finance reports, and both of them have been running for governor for more than a year. (Both candidates, however, were legally barred from raising money during last winter's two-month legislative session.)
WASHINGTON (CNN) – After years at the side of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Terry McAuliffe told supporters Saturday night that he intends to run for Virginia’s highest political office.
“On January 7, I will announce my candidacy for the governor of Virginia,” McAuliffe said in a video e-mailed Saturday evening and posted on terrymcauliffe.com.
“As governor, I’ll make it my job to protect your job, grow this economy, make Virginia a leader in renewable energy, focus on long term transportation solutions, and give our children the best education so they have a chance to pursue the American dream right here in Virginia,” McAuliffe says as he looks directly at the camera.
Striking a theme reminiscent of President-elect Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, McAuliffe told supporters, “When it comes to fixing our economy, there’s no such thing as a Republican job or a Democratic job.”
“It’s about bringing people together create good jobs. That’s the kind of leadership I believe in.” he added.
The formal announcement of McAuliffe’s candidacy has been expected for some time. McAuliffe, a longtime aide of both former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton, most recently served as the national chairman of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
(CNN) - Hillary Clinton’s former campaign chairman filed papers Monday forming an exploratory committee to run for Virginia governor.
Terry McAuliffe was widely expected to make his decision after Election Day. The former Democratic National Committee chairman will now do a 60 day listening tour of the state.
In September, McAuliffe hired longtime Virginia political consultant Mo Elleithee to start planning a possible statewide campaign, should he decide to run. Elleithee spent the last year working alongside McAuliffe in the Clinton campaign as a senior spokesman, but in recent years he has also helped steer Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to signature Democratic victories in Virginia.
Should he run, McAuliffe will face off in next year’s Democratic primary against state Sen. Creigh Deeds and State House Rep. Brian Moran. Virginia’s Attorney General Bob McDonnell is expected to run for the Republican nomination unopposed.
From CNN Politics
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