Political stakes high for McAuliffe in Nov. elections

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s name will not be on the ballot in November’s legislative elections but he’ll have a lot riding on its outcome.

He’s made it a priority for Democrats to retake the state Senate and has focused considerable resources from his political action committee toward a handful of competitive races.

If he’s successful, McAuliffe will have greater political clout and have more deal-making cachet with the Republican-dominated House of Delegates during the final two years of his term. If he loses, the former Washington insider could look politically weak at a particularly awkward time: just as his friend Hillary Rodham Clinton seeks the White House and will likely need this swing-state for her presidential hopes.

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