McAuliffe Likely to Announce Gubernatorial Bid After November Election

For former Democratic National Committee Chairman and Clinton confidant Terry McAuliffe, seems less like a question of “Will he?” and more like one of “When will he announce?”

“We’ve got some big races first,” McAuliffe said in an interview Sunday at .

The enthusiastic McAuliffe pointed out that and says his No. 1 focus is to make sure Obama is re-elected and former Gov. Tim Kaine wins the U.S. Senate seat he’s after.

“I want everybody focused on the president and Tim Kaine,” he said. “Right after the November election, we’ll have something to say.”

McAuliffe is hosting with Obama and former President Bill Clinton — to which he invited everyone in the standing-room-only opening of the Obama campaign headquarters.

U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., spoke after McAuliffe at Sunday’s reception. With his arm on McAuliffe’s shoulder, he asked the crowd, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone in Richmond” who shared their values before adding, “But we’re going to put that in the back of our minds for now.”

Rallying the crowd, McAuliffe proclaimed Obama “one of the strongest commanders in chief our nation has ever seen.” Shouting above the cheers and applause, he said a strong showing in November would provide the momentum needed for Virginia Democrats to retake the Governor’s Office and Legislature in 2013.

In an interview, McAuliffe casually pointed out that he spoke to about 150 Democrats in Richmond this weekend, many of them women chanting, “Run, Terry, Run,” and said, “They even brought a cake.”

“We’ve been working hard,” he said, before re-emphasizing the importance of Democrats winning the White House and securing Kaine’s seat in the Senate.

“As soon as that’s done…” He laughed. “Stay loose.”

Turning to a supporter laden with Democratic campaign paraphernalia, including a “Run, Terry, Run” sticker, he added: “That’s a year-and-a-half away. And a year’s long enough to run for governor.”