Politics & Government

Q&A With McAuliffe

Getting a head start on the governor's race.

The following are excerpts from Patch’s interview with Terry McAuliffe. Read the full story .

PatchWhat do you think are Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential aspirations?

McAuliffe: My personal opinion is that she is really looking forward to getting back to Chappaqua, enjoying life, hopefully being a grandmother and running a foundation for women and children. She has been first lady, a U.S. Senator, Secretary of State. She hasn't stopped in 20 years. I think she's looking forward to enjoying life, to relaxing and not having to get in a plane every single day and going to three countries.

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Patch: Have you ever done drugs?

McAuliffe: Never touched a drug in my life, never smoked pot. Can you imagine me on drugs? I'd be jumping off skyscrapers!

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Patch: What's the secret to being a good salesman?

McAuliffe: I think you're born with it. First of all, you've got to be passionate about what you're doing. It's not easy to raise money - to ask people for a million dollars, or $10,000, which is harder. You've got to totally believe in what you're doing. I always try to bring a lot of enthusiasm to it and excitement. You've always got to believe you're going to win, and you've got to convince people you're going to win.

Also, you've got to be positive. I don't have bad days. I do not allow negative energy to enter the room. Tell me how we get it done. If I don't want to do it, I don't do it. I've always been positive. That's why I've been successful with so many businesses. You make a goal, you put it out there and motivate people to go with you and get it done. 

Patch: You're always talking about competition and China…

McAuliffe: China recently announced an $800 billion investment in alternative energy. They want to own the electric car market. That's frightening to a guy like me. I'm on the board with the Clinton Foundation - we travel all over the world. Ten years ago, no China. Today, they're everywhere with hydroelectric plants. They're putting a footprint, a flag up all over the world. Listen, we designed the Kindle here in America. It's the hottest thing going, and we can't make it in America. It's made in Indonesia and Singapore. Thousands of jobs. We've got idle plants, the idle Ford factory in Hampton Roads. Fill these plants up with people.

China owns $1.2 trillion of our debt. In five years they're going to be a bigger economy than ours. The thing that bothers me the most is that we're not creating the manufacturing jobs, not creating the manufacturing to go with it to make it competitive. You have to create 150,000 jobs a month in America just to keep up with population growth. We did 18,000 last month.

Patch: And competition...

McAuliffe: I believe we should be competitive on everything. If they're number one, I want to be number one. Think you'll be number one, try to be number one and you'll be a lot closer than you were. Shoot for the moon. You may only get to the stars, but it's a whole lot better than being stuck here on the earth. If you don't you'll never be anywhere close. Always think big and then do it.

Patch: What's your opinion of Virginia Attorney General Ken Cucinelli?

McAuliffe: I'm just not  a big fan of extreme politics either way. The way these guys went after that guy (a former climate scientist) at UVA on climate change - they don't understand the ramifications of that. A scientist never wants to open themselves to attacks and harassment, and they'll just as readily go to Maryland, to North Carolina.

Patch: Have you ever been starstruck?

McAuliffe: Starstruck - no. Amazed, yes. When I met Mandela. Mandela, I think, is the most impressive. I went out to Robins Island - this little cell, and you see what this man endured. Incredible.

Patch: Would you ever go back to the DNC?

McAuliffe: No. I loved it, and they wanted me to run again. I left with a 96 percent approval rate. I rebuilt the national headquarters, built the first national voter file (known as Demzilla), changed the election calendar, raised more money in the history as chair of any party - $556 Million. I loved it. But four years is a long time, and I was the most traveled chairman ever.

Patch: What do you do to relax?

McAuliffe: Action flicks before bed, it relaxes me. It drives Dorothy crazy, but that's what I have to do go get my mind off of it. It calms me down.


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