Background

• Born in Syracuse NY.
• Received a bachelors degree from Catholic University and received his JD from Georgetown University.

Professional Positions

• Served as finance chairman for Dick Gephardts 1988 election bid.
• In 1996 served as national finance chairman and then national co-chairman of the Clinton-Gore re-election committee.
• In 2001 McAuliffe was elected as the chairman of the DNC.

Accomplishments

• One of the 796 superdelegates at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
• In 2000 he chaired the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.
• In 1997, he was chairman of the 53rd Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Criticism

• Global Crossing Bankruptcy: In 1997, McAuliffe purchased a pre-IPO $100,000 stake in Global Crossing. By 1999, the investment had reached $18 million, and he sold. In 2004, former Global Crossing executives paid $325 million without ackknowledgement of wrongdoing to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging fraud. In 2005, fines were paid by former executives to settle a 3-year inquiry by the Security and Exchange Commission. While McAuliffe sold his shares years before the company's failure, the debaucle prevented him from attacking Republican ties to the Enron scandal during the 2002 midterm elections. (Source: Wikipedia)

• Gaffe on Meet the Press: On May 11, 2008 McAuliffe told host Tim Russert that their fathers were "probably both in heaven right now, Tim, probably having a scotch, looking down and saying, you know what, this fight goes on. It's good for the Democratic Party. Millions of people coming out to vote. It's exciting." In fact, Russert's father "Big Russ" is still alive. Oops! (Source: Meet the Press Transcript)

Additional Information

Biography Links

• Wikipedia