Democratic Candidate Mixes Showmanship and Political Savvy

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A Mix of Showmanship and Savvy

Va. gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe has always talked louder, moved quicker and thought bigger than most of his peers.

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Likewise, McAuliffe's traveling chief of staff, Justin Paschal, 34, who has worked for him for eight years, said McAuliffe never lets him see him sleep. "We come off the road and I want to die, crawl home," Paschal said. "He gets up and goes to two of his kids' games."

Dorothy McAuliffe said her husband might not make it to every rugby, lacrosse or soccer match, but when he is there, he is the father with the video camera, shouting out his children's names and embarrassing them. Dozens of photo albums fill the family's McLean house, each meticulously put together and labeled in his hand.

"He loves the thrill of the moment, no matter what the moment is," Dorothy McAuliffe said.

On the same day that McAuliffe saw the payday loan office and persuaded Gloria to vote for him, he encountered a vocal critic in front of his Centreville campaign office -- a growling Chihuahua. Ever the showman, McAuliffe barely paused before vowing, "That Chihuahua is going to be in my lap by the time I leave."

Come one, come all.

Inside, McAuliffe delivered his usual speech to the volunteers, flinging familiar sound bites such as, "I don't want my fair share, I want more than my fair share," and "You got to shoot for the moon if you're going to end up with the stars." But once outside, true to his word, he studied the temperamental pooch for a second and then scooped him into his arms.

"What did I tell you? What did I tell you?" McAuliffe barked. "Chihuahuas for Terry!"