Obama Looms At Clinton/McAuliffe Event
RICHMOND -- Stumping for VA GOV candidate Terry McAuliffe, Bill Clinton today assured voters that if they wanted a repeat of his job creation record and a governor who could match his record of peace and prosperity, McAuliffe is their candidate.
"The only thing that matters is are people better off when you quit than when you started," Clinton told 400 people gathered at the 17th Street Farmer's Market.
Clinton, who for the epic and tireless campaigner he's known to be drew smaller than expected crowds here and later at a Roanoke fire station, stressed that under his leadership the US saw the creation of 23M new jobs. He was introduced as the last great jobs supporting pres., while McAuliffe, former First Friend and ex-DNC chief, was dubbed by a speaker as the next great jobs creating gov. Clinton also acknowledged that McAuliffe has raised big money for him through the years.
Together, they looked like a picture straight out of '98.
"Everybody knows that he's one of my closest friends," Clinton said. "I love his wife. I love his children. ... So look, I'd be for him regardless. I'd show up for him regardless."
He added: "I'm here for reasons that go way beyond that."
Clinton, wearing a tan summer suit on an unseasonably hot April day, said that after 12 years in the gov's office in AR, he knows how critical the states' top officials are during tough economic times.
He stressed McAuliffe's business background, riffing on the now oft told story of McAuliffe's first endeavor at 14 sealing driveways in his hometown of Syracuse. He carried his tools and materials from job to job in a red wagon. Clinton noted, too, that McAuliffe didn't come from wealth and privilege. "His daddy never made more than 30K in his life," Clinton said.
But Obama loomed large in Richmond, where the crowd was comprised of individuals of mixed races and ages. Clinton mentioned Obama just two sentences into his speech.
"President Obama has put together a great team to restore our economy and restore our nation's standing in the world," he said. "I especially like his choice for secretary of state."
One Obama staffer even tried to pump up the crowd before the event using a tried and true Obama campaign favorite."Are you guys fired up? Are you ready to go?" McAuliffe's area field director said.
Maria Dandridge, a Richmond resident and non-profit worker, said "absolutely" when asked if Obama would have drawn a larger audience for McAuliffe, who is competing in a three-way primary. "But I wouldn't be here because it would've been too many people," said Dandridge, an African American who voted for Obama last year over Hillary Clinton.
Clinton is thought to be McAuliffe's ace and closer as he battles ex-Del. Brian Moran and state Sen. Creigh Deeds for the nomination and a chance to tackle GOPer Bob McDonnell in the fall. Despite McAuliffe's money advantage and nat'l profile, today's events showed that with six weeks left in the contest, it'll take more than a former pres. to seal the deal for McAuliffe.
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