Yesterday while I was canvassing in the 82nd District for Creigh Deeds and Peter Schmidt, Terry McAuliffe phoned. I missed the call, but it didn’t stop Terry from covering the very ground we might have if we had spoken anyhow. This gesture was more than successful candidates have made in campaigns where my efforts were of significantly more consequence than his. I was simply a volunteer. This was more than tidying up. He left his number and asked that I call if there was anything else. There isn’t. But it further sealed the deal for me. Beyond dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s, he is making sure we do exactly what I was doing when he phoned: work for Democratic victories in November.In a Richmond Times Dispatch letter to the editor today written by Nancy St.Clair Finch, many of the aspects of his campaign that intrigued were expressed. Terry McAuliffe didn’t need to run for governor. But Virginia Democratic politics needed a refresh. There was so much voter fatigue after the Obama success, that voter interest on our side had waned enough that contests even in safe NOVA had become more than competitive. Hopefully, the turnout for the primary shows a reversal of that trend.
Well beyond the time when I became infatuated with the candidates I supported, the issues are now what matter. In his campaign, though, I fell into very deep respect for Terry’s experience, knowledge, and ability to explain issues in addition to those of social conscience, upon which most of us agree, and demonstrate the potential to turn the economic voodoo cauldron stirring Republicans on their heads. We must do that as we face the charges that will be levied going forward. Lowell is a consistent source of background and reference, but there is no wooden stake that will magically win the door to door effort. You see, there is this thing called talk radio and it nourishes fear by festering uncertainty. We need more of Terry’s common sense approach to the issues to win the day. No counter-voodoo; practical solutions to complex problems. So, motivated by Terry, I intend to work to frame as many of these issues so abused by the Republicans in a way that we can effectively counter the oversimplified charges we shall encounter. And go door to door.
