The Time Terry McAuliffe Left The Delivery Room For A Washington Post Party

Another time: "We got to the dinner and by then Dorothy was in tears, and I left her with Justin and went inside." But he raised a million bucks.

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Former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe launched his first television ad in the 2013 Virginia governor's race Wednesday. The positive ad focuses largely on his family and upbringing, citing his personal story as part of the reason why he knew it was important to create jobs for the state.

"My wife Dorothy and I have lived in Virginia for over 20 years and here we've raised five children our own," the ad says while showing b-roll footage of McAuliffe at the birth of one of his children. "I know nothing is more important to Virginians than creating good jobs that will support a family," the ad continued showing more home video of McAuliffe and his family.

McAuliffe also wrote about the birth of his children in his 2007 book What A Party, noting on one instance he left his wife at the hospital to attend a party for Washington Post reporter Lloyd Grove before the birth of his daughter Sarah.

"We got there a little after noon and spent the whole afternoon in her room. I was trying hard not to appear restless, but I am not one to sit still for long and soon I was going stir-crazy, which drove Dorothy nuts. 'Isn't there something you need to do?' she finally said. I told her The Washington Post was having a party that evening for Lloyd Grove, who wrote the 'Reliable Source' column. 'Go!' she said. 'You're like a caged animal here. I'll call you if I need you.' I went flying out the door and drove to the party. I kept calling Dorothy to make sure she was fine. I made the rounds at the party and ran into Marjorie Williams, who was writing a story on me for Vanity Fair, magazine. She was shocked to see me at the party. 'Isn't Dorothy having a baby today?' she asked. 'That's right,' I said, 'but she threw me out the room.' Marjorie just couldn't understand how I left Dorothy alone. I almost told her about the night I was born and how my mother wanted my father to stay at home to watch Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, but decided against it. I went back to the hospital after the Washington Post party and at 3:33 A.M. little Sarah Swann McAuliffe was born."

In another section of his book, McAuliffe writes about stopping to go to a fundraiser on the way home from the hospital with his wife, an aide who was driving his car, and a newborn baby Peter. McAuliffe noted the fundraiser, a "Sons of Italy" dinner hosted by United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters President Marty Maddaloni, raised "a million bucks for the Democratic Party."

Dorothy was starting to well up in the backseat. She was having trouble understanding how I could be taking my wife and newborn baby to a fund-raiser on our way home from the hospital. We got to the dinner and by then Dorothy was in tears, and I left her with Justin and went inside. Little Peter was sleeping peacefully and Dorothy just sat there and poor Justin didn't say a word. He was mortified. I was inside maybe fifteen minutes, said a few nice things about Marty, and hurried back out to the car. I felt bad for Dorothy, but it was a million bucks for the Democratic Party and by the time we got home and the kids had their new little brother in their arms, Dorothy was all smiles and we were one big happy family again. Nobody ever said life with me was easy.

A spokesman for McAuliffe declined to comment on record.

Here's McAuliffe discussing the incident during a interview about his book.

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Here's McAuliffe teling the stories himself in his audiobook.

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View this video on YouTube

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