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Democrat preaches to party faithful

Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Terry McAuliffe played to a crowd of 125 at the University of South Florida on Friday.

TAMPA - Terry McAuliffe would have made an inspiring preacher.

He gestures wildly and shouts passionately when the spirit moves him. He wears nice suits and gold cuff links and shirts embroidered with his initials.

He believes in good vs. evil.

But in McAuliffe's pulpit, good means the donkeys - evil, the elephants.

The gregarious, eternally optimistic and sometimes maligned 46-year-old chairman of the Democratic National Committee came to the University of South Florida on Friday to talk about "Why I Love the Democratic Party."

A congregation of about 125 believers, most of them senior citizens, turned out to cheer his every word.

McAuliffe's world is one of absolutes.

He says President Bush is a man of broken promises who has dipped into Social Security and Medicare, lied to Americans about Iraq, wrecked the economy and left every child behind.

In short, he has to go, McAuliffe said.

"Today is the beginning of the end of the George Bush administration!" McAuliffe shouted as he grabbed the microphone.

The crowd interrupted him with applause, as they would do 12 times over the next hour. They shouted "That's right!" and "Uh-huh!" and "Yes!"

As feel-good as Friday's session was, however, McAuliffe has had a bumpy ride since he took over as Democratic chairman in 2001. Critics within the party have complained of a lack of leadership and a clear message.

McAuliffe predicted control of the Senate would remain with the Democrats in 2002. Democrats lost handily.

He vowed to oust Gov. Jeb Bush last year. Bush easily beat Democrat Bill McBride.

On Friday, McAuliffe brushed aside questions about his leadership with a smile.

Instead, he gave statements such as "Our party is in the best shape it has ever been heading into a presidential election," and "we're going to beat George Bush."

He conceded that Bush "will have more money than God," but he said Democrats would prevail by telling the truth on issues.

He said he knows Florida will be a battleground state in 2004, and he vowed to devote huge resources to Democrats in the state. ("We actually won last time; we just didn't get the prizes," he said.)

For a man facing uncertainty on the political horizon, McAuliffe also maintains a sense of humor.

When he didn't hear the response he wanted from the crowd, he said, "Come on, folks, this is not a Republican fundraiser."

During one rant, he shouted, "Let's give Bill Clinton a round of applause!"

They cheered. Loudly.