McAuliffe suddenly seems chummy with Virginias GOP lawmakers
RICHMOND After a year of partisan warfare that brought Virginia to the brink of a state government shutdown, Gov. Terry McAuliffe has started showing Republicans so much love that he has some Democrats worried.
The same governor who blasted Republicans last year for demagoguery, lies, fear and cowardice has lately heaped praise on them, celebrating their willingness to find common ground in certain areas even as they blocked some of his top priorities.
That dramatic shift in tone is one that legislators and political strategists chalk up to McAuliffes growth as a governor, his humbling defeat on Medicaid expansion or his desire to shake his lightning-rod image to help his good friend Hillary Rodham Clinton win the swing state.
But it has some Democrats concerned as they head into General Assembly elections with the goal of convincing voters that Republicans are standing in McAuliffes way.
Weve got ... to be able to say, These Republicans are impossible to deal with, said Del. Marcus B. Simon (D-Fairfax). I understand the need to put that [positive] message out. But by emphasizing the areas we agree on, it makes it much more difficult to draw contrasts on some of the areas that we think are very important to Northern Virginia voters.
Others say those concerns are misplaced given how early it is in the election year. The former Democratic National Committee chairman has plenty of time to pivot from tossing out compliments to throwing bombs.
Thats a typical Virginia two-step: You want everybody to think things are great, and then in the election, you have to make them think itll only be great if they vote for your side, said Tucker Martin, a former spokesman for the previous governor, Robert F. McDonnell (R).
State Sen. A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico), chairman of the Senate Democratic caucus, said there is no conflict between acknowledging bipartisan achievements in some areas while gearing up to highlight sharp differences in others.
I think the commonwealth can celebrate that we have a governor that has been able to find common ground with the people across the aisle, he said. Obviously, there are places where we differ with Republicans, whether its gay rights or gun safety or Medicaid expansion, and well have ample time to drive those points home.
McAuliffe spokesman Brian Coy said the governor has good reason to cheer Republicans: He says theyve moved in his direction.
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McAuliffe suddenly seems chummy with Virginias GOP lawmakers