Questions raised about Terry McAuliffe's ties to Virginia

RICHMOND

On the campaign trail, Terry McAuliffe often mentions the $5 million he gave in 2005 to help elect Gov. Timothy M. Kaine as an illustration of his support for Virginia Democrats.

Yet records show that while McAuliffe pledged the cash as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, half the money was actually given by his successor, Howard Dean.

What the McAuliffe campaign calls a meaningless distinction, Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran see as an exaggeration that shows McAuliffe’s thin ties to the state he wants to govern.

“When it comes to having a record fighting for Virginia Democrats, for Terry McAuliffe, necessity is the mother of invention,” Moran campaign manager Andrew Roos said. “Why should we believe he’ll be here for Virginia Democrats now when he has not been there for us before?”

As the June 9 primary election approaches, the two Democrats running for governor against McAuliffe have sharpened their attacks on his record, hoping to cast him as an outsider who seeks to buy his way into state politics.

The goal is to portray McAuliffe “not only as a non-Virginian, but also as a creature of money, not as one of issues and substance,” explained Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political science professor.

Deeds, a state senator from Bath County, and Moran, a former state delegate from Alexandria, want to make the case that their time in state politics makes them better suited to serve as governor.

McAuliffe rose to prominence as a national Democratic fundraiser for Bill and Hillary Clinton, and his campaign staff insists the nearly 20-year resident of Northern Virginia offers a fresh perspective.

“I almost chuckle every time our opponents attack us for not being part of the Richmond crowd,” McAuliffe senior strategist Mo Elleithee said. “I actually want to hand them a megaphone and say, 'Say it a little louder.’”

Characterizing a political opponent as out of step with voters is hardly a new strategy. What’s unique in this instance is that Deeds and Moran are using similar arguments against a common enemy.

“McAuliffe’s weakness is McAuliffe,” Christopher Newport University political science professor Quentin Kidd said. “In a way, they’re going after the only thing they can go after him on because he’s loaded for bear, he’s creative in his policy solutions and he’s got plenty of staff.”

A large campaign operation and war chest – McAuliffe had a $2.4 million balance at the end of March, almost twice as much as Deeds and almost triple Moran’s totals – have allowed McAuliffe to get his message out in several ways, including the costly television ads he’s run since early this year. That type of advantage could tilt the scales in a primary, where turnout is usually low and name recognition crucial.

McAuliffe’s fundraising prowess also has exposed him to criticism from opponents who note that while at least 90 percent of their donors are Virginians, four-fifths of his contributors live outside the state.

Recent poll results show McAuliffe ahead, but also with the highest negative ratings among the three Democrats.

Since there aren’t huge policy differences among the three Democrats, McAuliffe’s foes want to contrast themselves as candidates who have worked for local Democrats over the years.

During a recent debate in Blacksburg, Deeds pounced when McAuliffe referenced his past support for party candidates. Deeds said he first encountered McAuliffe after the 2001 state redistricting, when he asked McAuliffe for money to support Democrats in local House races.

“You said no,” Deeds reminded McAuliffe. “You didn’t help then, and we lost 13 seats in that cycle.”

The risk for Democrats is that the strategy could cause a rift in the party while Republicans, eager to reverse a two-term losing streak, unite behind presumptive gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell.

“One of the consequences for this argument, if say McAuliffe wins, is Deeds and Moran will have succeeded in raising questions in the minds of a portion of the Democratic Virginia electorate about McAuliffe,” Old Dominion University political science professor Jesse Richman said. “And some of those folks will be tempted to vote for McDonnell.”

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com