Virginia May See Pro-Abortion Former Democratic Party Chair Run for Governor
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 11, 2008
Richmond, VA (LifeNews.com) — Apart from a couple of special election contests next month, the first chance for pro-life advocates to make election comebacks will take place next year. Virginia will have statewide elections and a pro-abortion former Democratic Party chairman may throw his name in the hat.
Terry McAuliffe, an abortion advocate who was the national party chair for Democrats has set up a campaign committee that allows him to gauge the interest level in his possible gubernatorial candidacy.
McAuliffe told AP he will travel the state for the next 60 days to determine if he will have enough support to make the bid official.
As the head of the Democratic Party, McAuliffe took a strong pro-abortion position.
In July 2004, McAuliffe unveiled a new campaign to be headed up by NARAL president Kate Michelman called the Campaign to Save the Court. The goal of the campaign was to scare up pro-abortion votes for John Kerry by telling voters President Bush would appoint more judges to overturn Roe v. Wade if given another term.
After the Kerry campaign loss, McAuliffe became the head of the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign and was replaced by pro-abortion former Vermont governor Howard Dean.
In February 2007, the Catholic Diocese of Syracuse canceled a planned speech McAuliffe had prepared because of his abortion views.
McAuliffe was slated to discuss a book he’d written on his involvement in politics at his high school alma mater, Bishop Ludden High School but officials with the Catholic church said the talk would be inappropriate because McAuliffe is a strong abortion supporter.
The diocese cited an interview McAuliffe gave to a nationally syndicated radio program saying he favors abortion "no question about it."
If McAuliffe jumps in the Virginia gubernatorial race, he will face state Senator Creigh Deeds, who narrowly lost the attorney general’s race in 2005, and House Democratic Caucus chairman Brian Moran.
Bob McDonnell, the current Virginia Attorney General and a pro-life champion, is expected to be the Republican nominee and will likely face little opposition.
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