Terry McAuliffe, looking to fend off charges that he actively undercut Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, announced support Monday from Tom Daschle, Obama’s national campaign co-chairman and short-lived Cabinet pick.
The endorsement comes a day after former state Del. Brian Moran — McAuliffe’s chief rival in the Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary — kicked off radio ads highlighting McAuliffe’s history of less-than-chivalrous politicking during his time as Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman.
The radio spot dredges up the famous “3 a.m.” advertisements in which the Clinton campaign questioned Obama’s ability to lead in a national crisis, as well as a “Daily Show” appearance in which McAuliffe jokingly said “kiss my ass, Barack.”
“The fact is, if Terry McAuliffe had his way, Barack Obama wouldn’t be our president today,” announced the ad, which ran in Hampton Roads and Richmond.
McAuliffe has sought to steer the conversation to the 2008 general election, when he campaigned for Obama across the nation, including in Virginia. Daschle, in a statement accompanying the endorsement, said McAuliffe “worked tirelessly to unify our party” after the presidential primary ended.
The former Senate majority leader, whose nomination as Obama’s health and human services secretary fell through after revelations of unpaid taxes, is the latest in a line of prominent political figures and celebrities to back McAuliffe. Former President Bill Clinton stumped for him in Fairfax County last week.
Critics say Daschle’s endorsement reflects more on McAuliffe’s history as a political fundraiser, which involved working closely with Daschle, than his ability to lead the state. Daschle’s endorsement “doesn’t erase or invalidate [McAuliffe’s] record” of opposing Obama’s presidency, said Moran spokesman Jesse Ferguson.
“Terry McAuliffe is doing everything he can to make this race not about his record and to rewrite history,” Ferguson said. “And we won’t let him.”
The furor is another sign that the race for the Democratic nomination is swiftly growing nasty. The third man in the race — state Sen. Creigh Deeds — has generally distanced himself from the vitriol, but at a cost of attention.
The June 9 victor in November will face Republican Bob McDonnell, who stepped down as Virginia’s attorney general to run full-time for governor.
