Terry McAuliffe will not run for president

Former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe announced Wednesday that he would not run for president in 2020, refuting rumors that he would join an already large group of Democratic candidates. in the running to push President Donald Trump out of business.

"I like to campaign. I love to fight, "McAuliffe told Chris Cuomo of CNN. "I would have liked to be on the scene of the debate with Donald Trump, but you know, we have to go ahead and get our party together."

History continues below

McAuliffe said he would prefer to focus his energies on helping Democrats keep control of the Virginia legislature, although he thinks he could beat Trump "like a rented mule" and did a good job at the White House.

"That's why I listened to the Virginians and I will help them over the next six months," McAuliffe said. "I could spend eight months traveling across the country running for president or six months to really make a difference."

McAuliffe's early announcement had been closely linked to former Vice President Joe Biden, whose folkloric manner overlapped with the former governor's Democratic Party appeal. In March, a source close to McAuliffe told POLITICO that "Terry is looking at Biden and thinks they are calling on a similar constituency, but Biden's decision will not be critical for Terry.

Biden strongly hinted that there was a leak, including an accidental leakage of footage from a campaign ad. McAuliffe's decision to withdraw would allow Biden to clear his path for an already controversial offer about the former vice-president's tactile style.

McAuliffe did not want to know if he was considering re-running as a governor or other elected office (the Virginia law prohibits the appointment of governors to consecutive terms). He also sidestepped the question of who he would support for the Democratic nomination in 2020, although he said he admired Biden for his help, along with President Barack Obama, in his campaign for the governor of Virginia.

Mr. McAuliffe served as Governor from 2014 to 2018 and chaired the National Democratic Committee from 2001 to 2005. He is also a friend with Bill and Hillary Clinton and was Hillary Clinton's Campaign Chair in 2008.

The former governor also spoke at the blackface scandal that surrounded Virginia's current governor, Ralph Northam – who was lieutenant governor of McAuliffe – who said Northam should step down after recognizing Blackface to college. The scandal, as well as allegations of sexual misconduct against Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax and another black-faced scandal involving state Attorney General Mark Herring, have severely damaged the image of Democrats in Richmond.

McAuliffe was a fierce critic of Trump and campaigned for his fellow Democrats in the 2018 elections. During his national tour on behalf of his party, he also hinted at a possible run up to 2020, when he met with activists, candidates and donors across the country.