For McLean neighbor and former Democratic Party Chair Terry McAuliffe, seems less like a question of “Will he?” and more like one of “When will you announce?”
“We’ve got some big races first,” McAuliffe said in an interview Sunday at .
The enthusiastic McAuliffe pointed out that and says his No. 1 focus is to make sure Obama is re-elected and former Gov. Tim Kaine wins this year's U.S. Senate seat.
“I want everybody focused on the president and Tim Kaine,” he said. “Right after the November election, we’ll have something to say.”
McAuliffe hosts with Obama and former President Bill Clinton — to which he invited everyone in the standing-room-only opening of the Obama campaign headquarters.
In an interview at the opening, McAuliffe casually pointed out that he spoke to about 150 Democrats in Richmond this weekend, many of them women chanting, “Run, Terry, Run,” and said, “They even brought a cake.”
“We’ve been working hard,” he said, before re-emphasizing the importance of Democrats winning the White House and securing Kaine’s seat in the Senate.
“As soon as that’s done…” He laughed. “Stay loose.”
Turning to a supporter laden with Democratic campaign paraphernalia, including a “Run, Terry, Run” sticker, he added: “That’s a year-and-a-half away. And a year’s long enough to run for governor.”
U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., spoke after McAuliffe at Sunday’s reception. With his arm on McAuliffe’s shoulder, he asked the crowd, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone in Richmond” who shared their values before adding, “But we’re going to put that in the back of our minds for now.”
Rallying the crowd, McAuliffe proclaimed Obama “one of the strongest commanders in chief our nation has ever seen.” Shouting above the cheers and applause, he said a strong showing in November would provide the momentum needed for Virginia Democrats to retake the Governor’s Office and state legislature in 2013.
McAuliffe ran for governor in 2009 and lost a three-way Democratic primary.
