McAuliffe takes on Republicans in House of Delegates

Terry McAuliffe is raising the stakes in his Democratic bid for governor, pledging to drive Republicans from their last stronghold of power in the House of Delegates.

"I've got to have a House of Delegates that agrees with me on these big issues," McAuliffe said at town-hall-type meeting last night in Richmond's Ginter Park with about 70 supporters.

McAuliffe faulted the House's slender GOP majority for thwarting departing Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine on new taxes for roads, tax breaks for energy conservation and expanded, federally subsidized jobless benefits.

Buoyed by an endorsement from a major environmental group and a published poll showing him with a 10 percentage-point lead for the Democratic nomination, McAuliffe said that, as governor, he wants "like-minded folks [in the House] to join me" in helping revive Virginia's economy.

However, McAuliffe seemed to give himself some wiggle room, suggesting that he is prepared to work with the opposition party.

"There is no such thing as a Democratic job or a Republican job," said McAuliffe, who steeled his partisan credentials as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

McAuliffe said later that his remarks on the makeup of the House are not a criticism of one of two his opponents in the June 9 primary, former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria.

To run for governor, Moran left the General Assembly, relinquishing the chairmanship of the House Democratic Caucus, a post in which he was responsible for expanding the party's numbers in the 100-member chamber.

McAuliffe said his only point is to spotlight Republican resistance to Democratic initiatives. "They are impossible to deal with," McAuliffe said of the Republicans.

With 45 seats, Democrats must win six in November to take back the House -- a task both parties say will be difficult because of light voter turnouts, the advantages of incumbency and a Republican edge through redistricting. The GOP holds 53 seats. Independents occupy two seats but side with Republicans.

With a little more than a month until the primary, McAuliffe, a newcomer to Virginia politics, continues to harvest key endorsements. The latest, announced yesterday, is from the Virginia League of Conservation Voters.

In a written statement, the organization's executive director, Lisa Guthrie, praised McAuliffe for a "clear and complete understanding of the interconnections between land use, transportation and energy generation and transmission."

In contrast with McAuliffe and the third candidate for the nomination, Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County, Moran has sought to woo environmental voters with tough stands against offshore drilling for oil and gas and expanded use of coal-powered electric generators.

Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or .