Terry McAuliffe's gubernatorial appeal built on money

As Terry McAuliffe begins the ritual leading to a 2009 gubernatorial bid, he's relying on a peculiar premise for why he'd be the best candidate to lead the Democratic ticket: money, and plenty of it, for Democratic campaigns across the commonwealth.

"I have tremendous contacts everywhere and have many friends," the former Democratic National Committee chairman told The Washington Post. "If I decided to run, we could raise resources to run a first-class campaign. But I would also make sure House of Delegates and local races are well-funded and well-run."

That not-so-subtle quid pro quo undoubtedly will warm up his welcome among Democratic officeholders worried about filling their campaign treasuries, but it's unlikely to score him any bonus points with Virginia voters.

And given all their success of recent years, Virginia Democrats are not wanting for fundraising stars. Any viable Democratic candidate will have plenty of financial help next year. Gov. Tim Kaine will have a powerful friend in the White House, and Virginia has many influential Democratic members of Congress eager to steer money into the state in a year when the only competition comes from a governor's race in New Jersey.

McAuliffe is a smart fellow, and there's no danger he'll run out of enthusiasm any time soon, but he's not the unbeatable contender he makes himself out to be. Has he forgotten that Hillary Clinton got just 35 percent of the Democratic primary vote last February?

Why does that matter? Because McAuliffe was chairman of her presidential campaign committee.

That showing makes it hard to argue that Virginia Democrats have a big appetite for left-of-center Clinton politics.