McAuliffe picks up two union endorsements...

Terry McAuliffe continues to do well with unions - scoring the support of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.  

You may recall that AFSCME has already made some political news in Virginia - and some internal waves in U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor's office - during a brief tempest in a teapot earlier this year. A Cantor staffer eventually apologized for sending out a link to this video.This EXPLICIT video - Warning - and remember before you click that bad language menas bad feelings.  

According to the AFSCME release, the group "has more than 10,000 union and household members in Virginia."

 

McDonnell loosens his collar...

With the Democrats gobbling up most of the political airtime, Republicans have been expecting their candidate to use the campaign trail to shake up Bob McDonnell's statewide image.

Remember most folks know McDonnell as the state attorney general - a spot where he chased after sexual predators online and also helped ramp up the state's penalties for dog fighting. Worthy initiatives to be sure, but not the kind of stuff that will win over more casual voters during what promises to be a massive, expensive fall campaign.

So here we have the first steps of McDonnell the gubernatorial candidate, taking to the drums behind Mike Huckabee. McDonnell does a pretty good job keeping up with Huckabee, who is ripping it on the bass. 

And it is comforting to know that he hasn't gone Slash on us - McDonnell is still making sure the red power tie is knotted all the way to the top - even during jam sessions. I'm trying to remember which instruments Brian Moran, Sen. Creigh Deeds and Terry McAuliffe play?

Here's the clip. I promise it's only a little more than a minute long.  

QUICK UPDATE - for you instant contact folks - McDonnell is also alive and well on Twitter click here.  

Liberty University wins Young Democrats award...

Young Democrats huddled at the University of Virginia over the weekend to elect new officers, meet the three Democrats running for governor and had out awards - including one to the lefties at Liberty University.

The new president of the Young Democrats - a Norfolk resident by the name of Sean Holihan - made special note of the Liberty organization.

"It’s appropriate that the VAYD’s recognize certain clubs and individuals who have contributed significantly to our organization’s successes," continued Holihan. "We are proud of each of our award winners, particularly the Liberty University club. The Young Democrats at Liberty proved that successful chapters can be organized everywhere, even at heavily conservative universities," he concluded.

To read more about the young Dems - check out the website by clicking here.

Deeds hits twitter...

Sen. Creigh Deeds has linked his Blackberry up to a Twitter account and gone all futuristic on us.

Deeds, a Bath Democrat, provides campaign blurbs about driving and dialing - a multitask that is crucial especially with a looming money deadline.

But the real bonus is that Deeds' twitter account also includes the music the candidate is listening too. Recent soundtracks to the Deeds campaign include - The Who, The Grateful Dead, Little Feat, Van Morrison and Drive By Truckers.

To check out Deeds' account click here.

Brian Moran's Twitter account is more formal - usually just referring to events and releases but check it out if you want - click here. 

It looks like the "Terry McAuliffe" page on Twitter is inactive - but for McAuliffe's blog click here.

UPDATE - Sorry had the wrong link for McAuliffe's page - fittingly you have to use Caps lock to get to the right link. click here.

Moran in Newport News tonight - deadline looms for raising cash...

Gubernatorial hopeful Brian Moran is coming to a Peninsula charity gala tonight in Newport News.

Moran, a former Northern Virginia prosecutor, will speak at the Greater Peninsula Women's Bar Association event this evening.  All the money raises in Newport News will be donated to a handful of local charities including Transitions Family Violence Services, Avalon - A Center for Women and Children and the Newport News Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children.

The event starts at 6 p.m. tonight.

Meanwhile, Moran has got to be hoping for a few checks tonight because the deadline for submitting fundraising numbers in midnight tonight. Moran, Sen. Creigh Deeds and Terry McAuliffe and their surrogates been mentioning the deadline in recent campaign emails because they know that fundraising numbers are going to be an important barometer in this primary campaign. 

McAuliffe has ratcheted up the intrigue - and the fundraising pressure - in the Democratic race to see who faces off against Bob McDonnell, who was stumping with Mike Huckabee this morning in Virginia Beach. 

Most observers are expecting McAuliffe to have a hefty cash advantage in the race, especially considering the fact that he's been flying all over the country to fundraise and apparently has already hired nearly 100 campaign staffers. By comparison, some Republicans said that during Jerry Kilgore's unsuccessful run in 2005 the GOP candidate had about 40 staffers.  

The trips have grown so frequent that a Daily Press business reporter accidently stumbled onto McAuliffe gabbing away on his cell phone during a layover at the Atlanta airport.

And apparently that wasn't just an odd chance meeting because McAuliffe's been hitting the trail hard - if you want to read more about his jaunts Click here. 

These fundraising reports ought to be fun to flip through.  

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Del. Frank Hall, D-Richmond, retires to the ABC Board.....

The list of incumbents keeps getting shorter and shorter these days, and the latest lawmaker to bid farewell to General Assembly is Del. Frank Hall, D-Richmond.

Hall, a well-spoken, affable Richmond leader, started serving in the House of Delegates in 1976 and used to head up the House Democratic Caucus. A mainstay in the House chamber, Hall was second on the seniority with only Del. Lacey Putney, I-Bedford, serving longer. 

Hall's announcement isn't a total shock, but it is certain to trigger an outpouring of salutations and support from fellow Democrats and probably some Republicans too. Hall's depature makes way for an interesting Richmond race. 

 “As I prepare to leave the General Assembly – after 34 sessions – I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to thank the people of this community for the confidence they have placed in me.  Serving in the House of Delegates has been a privilege, a pleasure, and a great honor.”

            “By working with constituents, consumers, advocates, and each other, we have been able to foster a public policy that promoted programs designed to better serve the public interest.”

            “Working together, we have been able to enhance the Commonwealth’s reputation as well-governed, compassionate, and business friendly.  For this opportunity I am immensely grateful to the people of the 69^th district.”

 

UPDATE - seems that Hall won't be out of work too long thanks to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine. 

 Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced his intention to appoint Virginia Delegate Franklin P. Hall to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, effective April 15. The intended appointment comes on the heels of Del. Hall’s announcement he will be retiring from the Virginia House of Delegates after more than 30 years of service.

 

            “Frank Hall has been a friend and colleague for many years, and has faithfully served the people of Virginia for several decades," said Governor Kaine. “He brings a wealth of experience and talent to his new job, having represented clients before the ABC Commission during more than 40 years as an attorney.

 

McDonnell tracker mines Newport News video to blast McAuliffe...

Remember that Republican tracker we were telling you about?

Well that video from Terry McAuliffe's Newport News meeting with minority-owned business leaders is already paying dividends for the GOP.

On Tuesday, the Republican Governors Association used that video to question McAuliffe's latest proposal designed to curb the influence of lobbyists in Richmond. The GOP is calling McAuliffe "two-faced" because he told a lobbyist at the Newport News roundtable that his campaign would be happy to accept donations from lobbyists.

Granted McAuliffe never said he wanted to tamp down campaign donations, but the lobbyist link is an easy line to blur and with all the humor scrubbed out of the transcript the exchange does look a little more cloak-and-dagger.

So watch the video - it's a seriously high quality picture too - none of those camera phone shenanigans.

But just yesterday, McAuliffe was encouraging a registered lobbyist to give him all he could during a roundtable in Hampton Roads.

“Terry McAuliffe is the ultimate two-faced politician,” said Mike Schrimpf, communications director at the Republican Governors Association. “Just like a chameleon, McAuliffe constantly changes his appearance depending on his circumstances.”

Who the GOP is targeting tells you a lot aboout who they think will be the Democratic nominee. So it'll be interesting to see if the Republican Governors Association sends out similar videos about Brian Moran and Sen. Creigh Deeds - or if they're only focusing on McAuliffe at this point.

 

Deeds plans stop in Williamsburg...

State Sen. Creigh Deeds is stopping in for an extended cup of joe in Williamsburg in a couple of weeks to meet and mingle with Hampton Roads Democrats.

Deeds, a Democrat from Bath County, is running for governor against Brian Moran and Terry McAuliffe. In the three-headed monster of a race, Deeds has the least amount of money which hampers his outreach efforts in a primary contest where McAuliffe is already running television and radio ads.

The handful of polls on the race have generally shown Deeds lagging behind. However, when pollsters ask questions about negative feelings - unfavorable ratings -  Deeds scores very low. The translation there is that, when people get to know Deeds they generally like him. Obviously that comes with the caveat that perhaps his low unfavorable ratings are a bi-product of his lower name recognition. 

But Deeds should benefit tremendously from the agreement sealed this week that sets up five debates and another three joint appearances around the state in the run up to the June 9 primary. Those events give Deeds a significant opportunity to battle back against the cash advantage his opponents currently hold - win some local press and make some inroads. 

If you want a sense of the man here's a five minute clip of Deeds.

And if you want more background on Deeds click here for a host of youtube links.

Deeds knows he can't run as many commercials or hire as many staffers - but when he shares the spotlight he can win some votes.      

Local voters can get a sense of Deeds on Monday April 6 - from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Coffee Beanery at 1301 Jamestown Road in Williamsburg.

 

 

 

McDonnell raises cash with McCain - tracks Democrats on the trail..

Republican Sen. John McCain is headlining a Bob McDonnell fundraiser in Northern Virginia tonight that is expected to rake in about $250,000 for the GOP hopeful's campaign coffers. 

McCain is the big ticket at the home of R. Cater Pate - a McLean businessman who was the state finance director for McCain's unsuccessful presidential bid. Pate has already given McDonnell $5,000 for his gubernatorial campaign. 

To check out Pate's recent donations on the Virginia Public Access Project click here.   

Also interesting note from this mornings Terry McAuliffe event in Newport News. McDonnell's campaign tracker was out and about video taping about and hour-and-half worth of banter. Political trackers are the oppositon researchers who essentially follow candidates everywhere in the hopes of capturing some sort of gaffe, misstep or partisan faux pas that can be used in campaign ads and fundraising. Think George Allen.

McDonnell's press secretary Tucker Martin said the campaign's Richmond-based tracker was watching McAuliffe on Wednesday, but the campaign huddles frequently to decide whether to follow McAuliffe or Brian Moran or Sen. Creigh Deeds on any given day.

"We are equal opportunity trackers," Martin said.

The latest on whether a carrier should go to Florida.

Rep. Glenn Nye, D-Norfolk, questioned Navy officials Wednesday on its plan to base an aircraft carrier in Mayport, Fla., and he says the Navy is now backtracking from its original position.

Leaders in Virginia and Hampton Roads are fighting the proposed move. Norfolk is the only East Coast home to aircraft carriers, and the region would lose thousands of jobs if one carrier moves to Florida. Virginia politicians also say the shift doesn't make economic or strategic sense.

Nye questioned Rear Admiral Philip Cullom, the Director of the Fleet Readiness Division and the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics.

He said Navy officials have been talking about it, and "no decision has really been made at this point yet, as to whether it should be done or not."

Nye says that's backtracking because the Navy has already formally recommended the move. Check out the video below.