Virginia Governor Race Lures Far-Flung Donors

Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli are drawing large sums from out of state for their contest.

Terry McAuliffe helped put Bill Clinton in the White House and Hillary Clinton in the Senate, having raised hundreds of millions of dollars for their election campaigns as well as for the former president's inauguration, legal-defense fund and library.

Now, the Clintons and their donor network are giving a boost to Mr. McAuliffe in his bid for Virginia governor.

Mr. McAuliffe, a former Democratic National Committee chairman, and his Republican opponent, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, are drawing large sums from beyond the state for their contest, which has become the marquee race in a year with few other notable elections.

More than 75% of Mr. McAuliffe's and nearly 60% of Mr. Cuccinelli's campaign donations this year through June 30 have come from out of state, according to nonpartisan watchdog Virginia Public Access Project.

Mrs. Clinton will headline a Sept. 30 fundraiser for Mr. McAuliffe at the home she and Mr. Clinton own in Washington D.C., the McAuliffe campaign said. It is expected to be Mrs. Clinton's first openly political appearance since she stepped down this year as secretary of state.

A second fundraising event with Mrs. Clinton is planned for October, the McAuliffe campaign confirmed. The campaign said it wasn't clear whether Mr. Clinton would play a role in the two events. The former president has already donated $100,000 to Mr. McAuliffe.

Media tycoon Haim Saban, a supporter of Mr. Clinton who served on a trade advisory council during his presidency, has given $250,000 to Mr. McAuliffe. Ron Burkle, the businessman who for a long time was a close friend of Mr. Clinton, gave Mr. McAuliffe's campaign $100,000. Both were major supporters of Mrs. Clinton's 2008 presidential primary campaign and are also longtime Democratic donors.

Mr. McAuliffe also received $100,000 from Doug Band, a senior Clinton White House aide who helped the former president build the Clinton Global Initiative philanthropy.

Other McAuliffe donors include Chicago businessman Fred Eychaner, who gave $100,000, and New York financier Marc Lasry, who gave $75,000. Both donated to Mrs. Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign and are major givers to the Clinton Foundation, and both raised money for Mr. Obama in 2012.

Those and other donations have powered Mr. McAuliffe to a fundraising lead. He raised about $12.3 million in 2012 and the first half of 2013, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, compared with Mr. Cuccinelli's $7.7 million. Mr. McAuliffe had $6 million cash on hand, and Mr. Cuccinelli $2.65 million, as of June 30.

Virginia places no limits on donations from individuals or corporations in state races but requires contributions over $100 to be disclosed.

Many of Mr. Cuccinelli's donors gave heavily to conservative and GOP political action committees and nonprofits in 2012. They include New York hedge-fund manager Sean Fieler, who has given Mr. Cuccinelli $70,000; Wyoming investor Foster Friess, $30,000; conservative industrialist David Koch, $50,000; and Koch Industries, $35,000.

Mr. Cuccinelli's biggest donor is the Republican Governors Association, which gave $2 million in cash and $3.6 million in in-kind contributions, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. The group is paying for airtime for many of the campaign's TV and radio ads.

Political analyst Stuart Rothenberg, publisher of a nonpartisan newsletter that rates races, called the Virginia contest the most important of 2013. "Many conservatives and Republicans see this election as a big test: the Clinton liberal Democratic clique versus a true, red-state conservative,'' he said. "That's why all the money is flowing in."


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More than 75% of Mr. McAuliffe's and nearly 60% of Mr. Cuccinelli's campaign donations this year through June 30 have come from out of state, according to nonpartisan watchdog Virginia Public Access Project.

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All this shows is that VA residents are a bunch of deadbeats and cheapskates. If they would carry their own weight, outsiders from other states wouldn't have to pony up the cash to these campaigns.

Quote: Frank Cannon wrote in post #2

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More than 75% of Mr. McAuliffe's and nearly 60% of Mr. Cuccinelli's campaign donations this year through June 30 have come from out of state, according to nonpartisan watchdog Virginia Public Access Project.

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All this shows is that VA residents are a bunch of deadbeats and cheapskates. If they would carry their own weight, outsiders from other states wouldn't have to pony up the cash to these campaigns.

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Just goes to show ......these elections are no longer local deals.
All about Party ......all about money .............all about Power !!
Let's spell it out .......C O R R U P T I O N !!