Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Clinton touts McAuliffe at downtown Roanoke rally
The former president said he was happy to campaign for his old friend and fundraiser.
Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times
Former President Bill Clinton appeared with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe on Monday afternoon at Fire Station No. 1 in Roanoke.
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Bill Clinton came to Roanoke twice last year, campaigning first for his wife and then for Barack Obama.
On Monday, he was back in Roanoke again -- this time at downtown's Fire Station No. 1 in an appearance for his longtime friend and fundraiser Terry McAuliffe, who's running for governor.
While Hillary Clinton and Obama needed no introduction, McAuliffe is running as a candidate for the first time after years of high-power fundraising and strategizing for Democrats such as the Clintons.
Radford University student Kenny Davis, 22, came to Roanoke to see Clinton -- "the greatest living president," he said --for the third time in a little more than a year.
Nicholas Graybill, 28, of Roanoke also had a spot near the front of the line. He too had come for Clinton, though he said he'd listen to what McAuliffe had to say: "I don't know who I'm going to support. If he impresses me, you know, whatever."
McAuliffe clearly aims to impress, playing a political trump card by campaigning with Clinton in Roanoke and Richmond six weeks before the June 9 Democratic primary against state Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Del. Brian Moran of Alexandria.
The winner will face Republican Bob McDonnell, the former attorney general, in the November election.
Video: Clinton visits Roanoke is support of McAuliffe
Video by Chris Zaluski | The Roanoke Times
"I promise you -- it's hot, you're sweating -- I'm going to sweat for you every single day as governor if you put me in there," said McAuliffe, on a day when the temperature hovered around 90.
Clinton said his visit to Virginia was about more than returning a favor to a friend.
"They said, 'Oh Bill Clinton's got to come. Terry McAuliffe's one of his best friends. He raised him millions of dollars.' You know what? That's true. It's absolutely true. Under any circumstances, had he called and asked me to come, I'd have been here," Clinton said. "But I want you to know that my reasons for being here go way beyond that."
Clinton said McAuliffe would move aggressively on job creation and new energy development to put the state on the front edge of the nation's economic recovery. Clinton also said McAuliffe could keep the governor's mansion in Democratic hands in an election that will have national political implications.
"I see where the Republicans see this governor's race as an opportunity to turn back the tide of Democratic victories and gain some momentum for 2012," Clinton said. "It's a great political opportunity for them. Terry McAuliffe sees this governor's race as a chance to give ordinary people in Virginia their fair share in America's economic recovery. And there's a big difference."
McAuliffe -- the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee who headed the fundraising effort for Clinton's 1996 re-election bid -- had raised more than $5 million for his gubernatorial campaign through the end of March, assembled a paid staff of nearly 100 people and is running targeted television and radio ads in some parts of the state. Moran and Deeds have been unable to keep up with McAuliffe in the race for campaign cash, but instead are banking on their policy proposals, their legislative experience and the endorsements they have received from Democratic officeholders throughout the state.
McAuliffe cut his teeth in national politics and has not been a player in state affairs. But Clinton's validation could pack a punch with the state's Democratic primary voters, veteran Virginia political analyst Bob Holsworth said.
"Obviously he's trying to use Clinton to reinforce the basic message of job growth," he said.
Holsworth also noted that very few Virginia political heavyweights have taken sides in the race, including Gov. Tim Kaine and U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb. McAuliffe may be hoping that the backing of Clinton "equals 100 local officials" backing the other candidates, Holsworth said.
McAuliffe worked to establish his own identity as a candidate before bringing Clinton into the state to campaign with him -- and now the former president can help reinforce McAuliffe's message and his plan to generate job growth, senior campaign strategist Mo Elleithee said.
Moran and Deeds have little to say about Clinton's foray into Virginia. Moran said last week that Virginia voters would decide the primary and an aide said Monday that it is no surprise Clinton would back his close friend and fundraiser.
Republicans were also unimpressed by Clinton's visit. After a news conference at the O. Winston Link Museum, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling questioned McAuliffe's state roots, suggesting Clinton had visited Roanoke more than McAuliffe.
"His will be a campaign of firsts, because anything he does it'll be the first time he's done it in Virginia," said Bolling, who is running for re-election.
