Terry McAuliffe To Campaign Extensively For Obama In Virginia
Terry McAuliffe irked plenty of Obama supporters with his eternally jovial but aggressive advocacy for Hillary during the Dem primary, but now McAuliffe is set to make amends -- he's finalizing plans to put his unique species of garrulousness at Obama's disposal.
McAuliffe has agreed to campaign extensively for Obama in his longtime home state of Virginia -- and he's in discussions with Obama advisers about the possibility of doing as many as two dozen or more events, according to advisers to both men.
McAuliffe's first Virginia event is set for September 24th at a high school in Chesterfield County, where he'll speak on Obama's behalf, Tracy Sefl, a top aide to McAuliffe, confirms. McAuliffe will be a counterweight to former Virginia Senator George Allen, who will speak at the school on John McCain's behalf a week earlier.
Obama advisers say that McAuliffe will be pressed into service to advocate in particular for Obama's health care plan. "Terry clearly has facility with the issue," says Kevin Griffis, Obama's Virginia press rep, adding that the Obama camp is hoping for multiple events from McAuliffe. "People know him from his work with the Clintons, and he's a passionate supporter. We feel like he's someone who can talk to people from all walks of life."
McAuliffe has done extensive media appearances for Obama, especially during the Dem convention, but his planned events in Virginia will be his first actual on-the-trail campaigning for him.
McAuliffe, of course, also has his own reasons for traveling the state: He's considering a run for Governor in 2009.
Late Update: McAuliffe is also hitting the trail in Philly this Saturday.
Ummm, thanks, but no thanks, Terry?
September 16, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Could you imagine Terry McAuliffe and James Carville on the trail together for Obama...I could never be so lucky!
September 16, 2008 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
::shivers::
September 16, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
So does that make him the Mouth to Nowhere?
September 16, 2008 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
terry is thinking about running for gov. of virginia, so if he wants to win he better get his ass out there and campaign.
Video: McCain says, American’s Don’t Pay Taxes
September 16, 2008 7:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
If anyone was afraid of Biden's gaffeability, then they haven't heard Terry "Mighty Mouth" McAuliffe.
September 16, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, at least he's not the one who gave Hillary three balls!
September 16, 2008 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely, no thanks.
Terry is a jackass and a loser and that has nothing to do with Hillary's campaign.
September 16, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
He reminds me of Tweety.
September 16, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Couldn't hurt . . . oh, who'm I kidding . . .
September 16, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
pass on that gesture of a baffon! We don't need Terry's help and most likely it will hurt us!
September 16, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
YAY T-Mac is back :) You know you love him.
September 16, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Love him like a painful rectal itch....
September 16, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
C'mon Schmedley. He's affable, he's funny, and he never comes off mean-spirited asshat (ala Wolfson). T-Mac's one of my fave Clintonistas :)
September 16, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, he's pleasant enough -- wouldn't mind drinking a beer with him. But his penchant for outrageous statements knows no bounds and he makes me cringe when he full-on denys reality in favor of his desired outcomes. He's a nice enough guy, but I wouldn't want him representing me.
September 16, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
That smile of his is creepy, it never goes away. He could be saying the most rediculously stupid shit and there is the smile.
He reminds me of the Joker from Bat Man fame.
September 16, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I especially like his ability to affably promote an up-is-down version of reality, much like the Republican party hacks and pundits one sees on cable news television.
September 16, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly.
Made me want to grind me teeth in my sleep at night.
Thanks for sticking it to the real enemy, Terry!
September 16, 2008 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he'll be one of those guys you loathe when he's on the other side but love when he's on your side.
I kind of doubt it, to be honest.
September 16, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd hate to see him win because I hate to reward liars.
What really burns my ass (other than a three foot flame) is that he will probably (given his money advantage) beat out a more worthy primary candidate.
September 16, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm all in for Terry, especially if he's bringing the Cuervo. Seriously, he's like the master of booze.
September 16, 2008 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Meh, if he wants to help... send him to West Virginia too.
September 16, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I couldn't stand Terry in the primaries, but I think he'll be a good surrogate.
Unlike many of those in Hillaryland, he has been 100% behind Obama once the primaries ended.
And he can schmooze with the best of them.
September 16, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well that's not it - Terry has fucked up more than one campaign in his time.
IF they like him in Virginia, well good.
I don't think Terry is particularly good luck, but what can I do?
lol
September 16, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
From a Virginian, we're doing pretty well here in our battleground state, Terry. Really. We got this. Why not visit somewhere else?
September 16, 2008 9:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good news. Terry could be an excellent surrogate with some groups in some parts of Virginia.
But talking about Virginia brings up a question that's been bothering me: Where the hell is Jim Webb? Why isn't he out in southwestern Virginia and other white, working-class parts of the state?
September 16, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Webb HATES shaking hands and kissing babies. I think Webb also wants to seem apolitical (as silly as that sounds) so he can work with both sides and isn't painted as a strict partisan.
September 16, 2008 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I think he can be excused giving that impression, what with this being a Presidential election and all.
September 16, 2008 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Webb's a Blue Dog. He probably doesn't agree with Obama on much. I don't think he'd be terribly helpful anyway.
September 16, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
As was mentioned at the very bottom of the blog - Terry is doing this for himself. He's starting his Gubernatorial campaign with this.
Who is Kaine's Lieutenant Governor? Kaine can run for one more term can't he?
September 16, 2008 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nope. VA governors constitutionally limited to a single term.
September 16, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kaine's Lieutenant Governor is a Republican, and no, governors in Virginia are limited to one term.
September 16, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, VA governor is limited to one term only.
September 16, 2008 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Terry is angling to run for Governor of VA. He will be on his best Democratic behavior.
September 16, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't it a little late in the game? It seems like some Dems are just now waking up to the fact that there's a race going on.
September 16, 2008 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
We haven't even had a debate yet. It's not "late in the game" at all.
September 16, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Also, with ever accelerating news cycles, and unprecedented money in this race; and cheaper and more extensive communications, campaign time is effectively expanded. It would be interesting to have someone do a study of the relative jaggedness or temporal compression of poll shifts today versus 30 years ago.
September 16, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
The first debate is a little over a month from election day. That would be very late in the game.
September 16, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
The first debate is next Friday. A month is an eternity.
September 16, 2008 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Late in the game? Late in the game is the last week in October.
This is early yet.
September 16, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
The one I want to be going all out is Mark Warner; he's gonna win his race by easy double digits regardless, and he should be arguing that voters need to go with him and Barack as a team.
Anybody know whether he will do that?
September 16, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Terry reminds me of Deion Sanders: hated him when he played for the Cowboys, loved him when he played for the Niners. Sure, he was still a jerk, but he was our jerk.
And he's funny. I think he can do some good.
September 16, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad you do.
And I've seen Terry do some really good interviews - he is funny.
I'll quit thinking of him as Bird of Ill Omen. Wait, let me do that again - I'll try to quit thinking of him as a Bird of Ill Omen. LOL!
September 16, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
The very characteristics that made me want to throw something at the TV when Terry was on are characteristics we need. Yes, Obama needs to be thoughtful, concrete, whatever. But we also need the "Noun, verb, and 9/11" kind of smackdowns that are so very effective.
And I think Terry is just the dude to provide that. The fact that he's potentially thinking about running for governor is only a good thing: it motivates him.
It's all good.
I'm pretty sure.
: )
September 16, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
The more, the merrier. But is it me, or is anyone else sick of the Clinton folks telling us what they will do, and don't really see them doing anything? I mean, do they have better things to be doing now?
September 16, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
are you sure you didn't mean "McAuliffe to campaign for Governor in Virginia?"
September 16, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Terry! Terry!
Is he going to carry a bottle of Puerto Rican Rum with him??
September 16, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Only person I hated more than him was Penn and Wolfson. However, now that he is on our side, I can't wait to see him out there on the trail.
September 16, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
We need all hands on deck. Terry is part of our Democratic family. We had a family feud during the primary. That does not mean that the family is not going to unite to fight outsiders.
Perhaps it is because I am Irish, and that is how Irish families operate.
Like Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy, even Tip O'Neill, Terry is another happy Irish Warrior. We are super loyal to who ever we decide to back, that is why I understood why Terry fought so hard for Hillary. It is the Irish way. Now the family squabble is over, so we come together, and fight the same way for our Democratic Party Family.
Welcome home Terry. Glad to have you in our tent, pissing out at the Republicans.
Folks; stop your whining and holding of petty grudges. We need all hands on board now.
There is only one thing that I hate more than a bunch of sore losers, and that is a bunch of sore winners.
Do you want to win, or do you want to continue with a pointless internal party feud.
September 16, 2008 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just be sure to check which way the wind is blowing!
September 16, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
John McCain may have done the Dems a favor, at least in this respect; anyone values rational, competent government is bound to vote for Obama in the fall.
September 16, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMG. For the first time in the campaign, I'm am really, really scared. Are Obama's people completely sure they want to do this?
September 16, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about Vincent D'Onofrio in Full Metal Jacket?
September 16, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
"What's your name Fat Body? I think it's Gomer Pile!"
September 16, 2008 7:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
McAuliffe? Who cares?
How 'bout them Cowboys?
September 16, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guese that they want to get as many 'white guys' as possible out there in states like Virginia. I do think Senator Obama needs to keep every state possible in play so if he feels Virginia is slipping away from him maybe he decided it's worth the risk sending in Terry. Bill will probably be there too!
September 16, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Folks;
Try a view this from a dispassionate perspective.
A lot or women Hillary backers love Terry, for the way he fought to the end for her.
He can win some of them over to Obama. Stop looking a gift horse in the mouth.
Terry can also help a lot with big time contributions.
Stop cutting off your noses to spite your faces.
We need every seasoned campaigner that is willing to pitch in.
In case you haven't noticed, the Republicans have all come home, so why are so many of you acting like petulant babies, and not willing to let bygones be bygones, Terry is a Democrat, and when fighting Republicans, that makes him one of our own.
September 16, 2008 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
And for everyone here who doesn't know liam, this is an extraordinary statement from one of the fiercest Clinton opponents around.
And I agree with everything liam said.
September 16, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not only that, Terry's a great drunk. He'll bring the booze down on your face.
September 16, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed, and I was a Hillary Clinton supporter in the primary (she had a more progressive message on domestice policy than Obama, to my way of thinking, and I just loved her). Terry McAuliffe's enthusiasm and positive attitude are qualities the Obama campaign can't have too much of if you ask me. Let's stop the petty personal attacks that pervade the comments sections on this site. They don't reflect well on our party or on our positive message.
September 16, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great news!
Please give Terry all the support you can if you live in VA or close to VA!
I hope this helps both, his own potential run for Governator and Obama NOW!
September 16, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Terry just needs his Lithium titrated and everything will be ok.
September 16, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Virginia endorsement I'm more excited about is Linwood Holton. A popular Republican former governor on Obama's side can't hurt.
September 16, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I imagine his son-in-law had some positive influence there. ;-)
September 16, 2008 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now we just have to park Hillary in Ohio for the next 7 weeks.
September 16, 2008 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Terry's back, baby! We need this guy!
September 16, 2008 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Take him or leave him?
--- > Take Him!
September 16, 2008 7:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Loonnnnnggggg deeeeppp sigh. My last vision of T.Mc. was him announcing Senator Clinton as the next president of the United States at her first speech after the primaries were over. But if he is going to help, he's going to help. He has experience in political races, if he is considering running for governor he'll have to watch he doesn't go over the top so good for him. I will welcome his help.
September 16, 2008 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
TMac has absolutely no moral compass...he blows whichever way the wind happens to and is completely opportunistic. While I believe that he will be on his best behavior in VA, because he wants to ride Obama's coattails to the Governor's Mansion next year, he is as slimy as they come and he does not represent the post-partisan government I desire.
September 16, 2008 8:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
No matter WHO, no matter WHERE, anyone who stands up for Obama, and spreads the truth to any open ear, I say Here! Here! Let them stand up for Barack and Biden, to bring this election safely home in November. The Obama-Biden win, is the ONLY thing that can, and will, bring "Lady Liberty" back to her feet. We All Owe America (and the world) All That We Can Do!
September 16, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm...my old high school is in that county. I do wonder which one it will be. In any case, despite my criticism of him, I hope he does a fantastic job--I really do.
September 16, 2008 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Any ideas about whether we will see him on MSM as a surrogate... heard earlier today the campaign is not totally happy with the current group of MSM surrogates... I can't blame them but it's still the ground game...
I have a GOTV rally planned for my office tomorrow in south florida... trying to register 500 people.
September 16, 2008 9:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
This guy sat & told US bald faced lies during the primary. I don't like this at all. I wouldn't be surprised for one second to see him & Carville puposely nuke Obama's campaign.
Bad move BOOOOOOH!!!!
September 16, 2008 9:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who cares what that corrupt creep does? With friends like that, who needs enemas?
September 16, 2008 9:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh gawd! Not that fucking idiot.
September 16, 2008 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Terry McAuliffe addressed the Va Democratic Central Committee meeting last Saturday in support of Obama. I was quite skeptical when he came in, but believe me, he got the place rockin' and rollin'.
I left the meeting feeling that he had gone a long way to redeeming himself in my eyes. I'll continue evaluating him event by event.
September 16, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Terry - is a blast!
Governor material - maybe not.
September 16, 2008 11:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha. McCain seriously has senator Macaca out there stumping for him?
September 17, 2008 8:28 AM | Reply | Permalink