Gubernatorial Candidate McAuliffe Delivers Signatures to Election Board

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe hand-delivered 35,746 signatures Wednesday to the Virginia State Board of Elections in Richmond to help secure his place on the ballot in the governor's race.

McAuliffe may face Republican Virginia State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on the ballot come November.

A new Quinnipiac University poll out Wednesday showed Cuccinelli is viewed as "having better experience, while voters see Terry McAuliffe as slightly less ideological, but neither is well-known to voters who are divided on who should be the next governor, with 40 percent for Republican Cuccinelli and 38 percent for Democrat McAuliffe," according to a news release about the new Quinnipiac University poll. 

The most important issue in the Virginia governor's race, according to those surveyed, was the economy.

Former Republican Delegates Vince Callahan, Katherine Waddell, businessman Major Reynolds, and supporters joined McAuliffe Wednesday to deliver the petitions with McAuliffe in Richmond.

“I’m grateful for the support I’ve gotten from folks across the Commonwealth,” said McAuliffe, a McLean businessman, in a news release. “I think this is a testament to the energy and passion there is behind our message of overcoming extreme gridlock to find mainstream solutions on transportation, education, and economic development.  I look forward to continuing to work with Virginians of all political affiliations as we strive to make Virginia the best for business.”

Volunteers carried the petitions and helped collect signatures from across the Commonwealth, including collecting more than three times the required amount from each congressional district, according to the campaign.

Candidates must gather 400 signatures from each of Virginia's 11 congressional districts.

VPAP shows McAuliffe has received campaign donations from three donors in Chantilly; one for $50,000, from Premium Distributors, another for $200 from Salim Fuleihan and Rola Fuleihan.

He has received $397,605 in all so far from donors in Fairfax County according to VPAP.