VIRGINIA. Over the weekend, there were new questions raised about Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s former car business, GreenTech, currently under investigation by the SEC over visas it helped potential investors obtain. McAuliffe’s former business partner Charles Wang told the New York Times that “Politicians or people with political backgrounds are dangerous to business” and that McAuliffe’s push to “build an electric car in less than five years, extremely ambitious by auto industry standards, was influenced by Mr. McAuliffe’s desire to add ‘job creator’ to his résumé.”
The Washington Post reports that “review of hundreds of public records and interviews with former employees and public officials in Virginia and Mississippi indicate that McAuliffe’s promises to create thousands of American jobs and millions of American-made cars have fallen short.” The AP notes that “cars were supposed to start rolling off the assembly line in 2012. The company now hopes to start producing cars next year. And while they say they still plan to build a plant in Tunica County, all that was on the land on a recent afternoon was a construction trailer, a few pieces of equipment and a few workers strolling around.
While Republican Ken Cuccinelli continues to face questions over gifts he received from Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams, he said after a forum on Friday that he “would consider writing a check to cover the costs of the gifts given to him by Williams” but that “as a father of seven, he has to manage his family budget,” NBC4 reports. Cuccinelli: “You mean write a check?…If I could do that, I might just do that, but that’s just not something I can do from my family’s perspective.”
2016. Vice President Joe Biden “will be the keynote speaker at Senator Tom Harkin’s annual steak fry fund-raiser next month, a signature political event that often showcases as featured speakers those aspiring to be president,” the New York Times reports.
NBC News reports on the politicking from Iowa this past weekend, with EMILY’s List holding a “Madam President Town Hall” and social conservatives gathering at the Family Leadership Summit. “Roughly 29 months remain before voters in this crucial state make their opinions known about the next round of presidential wannabes. No candidate has declared an intention to run. There is not even a soap box for political speeches at this year’s State Fair, a rarity in these parts. And the actual date of Iowa’s caucuses is far from being determined. But make no mistake: the 2016 campaign is well under way in the state that has played a major role in the battle for the White House for the past four decades. “
Wall Street Journal: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz “on Saturday made his second trip to Iowa this summer. He and Mr. Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania, addressed a forum of Iowa evangelicals here. They were joined by real-estate developer turned reality-television star Donald Trump. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a fellow Republican, was in Des Moines a week earlier to attend an event organized by a prominent GOP donor in the state.”
Washington Post: “Now, coming off her four-year tour as the nation’s top diplomat and free as a private citizen to pursue her own agenda, she is championing women — making speeches about the unfinished business of the women’s movement and starting an international project focused on women and girls through the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.”
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR. Anthony Weiner is up with his first TV ad, the New York Observer reports. While the former congressman doesn’t “directly address the sexting revelations that have imperiled his comeback candidacy, the former congressman continues to play defense, painting himself as the anti-establishment pick in the race for mayor.” Weiner: “Look, powerful voices have made it clear from the very beginning they didn’t want me to win. But this isn’t about what they want. They’ve gotten their away far too long. if you give me the chance, I will fight for you and your family every single day.” And the New York Post reports Weiner “could star in a documentary film about his headline-grabbing campaign.”
ARKANSAS. Politico reports that an internal poll conducted by the NRSC from GOP firm On Message Inc. shows freshman Rep. Tom Cotton, who kicked off his campaign last week, up by two points over Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor, 44%-42%.
WASHINGTON. Five-term GOP Rep. Dave Reichert says “that he’s “thinking about” running for statewide office, such as governor or U.S. senator” in 2016, he told Q13 Fox News.
Jessica Taylor