Ex-President Clinton to campaign with McAuliffe in Roanoke, Richmond

In Richmond two months ago, former President Bill Clinton urged Virginia Democrats to wage a vigorous nomination battle for governor -- but not to go overboard and aid their GOP opponents.

Tomorrow, he will put himself to the test as he campaigns in Richmond and Roanoke for his chosen candidate, Terry McAuliffe.

The former president will appear with McAuliffe at 9:30 a.m. at the 17th Street Farmers' Market at 17th and Franklin streets. McAuliffe and Clinton will then move on to Roanoke, where at 12:15 p.m. they will speak at Fire Station No. 1 at 13 East Church Ave., SE.

McAuliffe, who lives in McLean; state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria are vying for the Democratic nomination in the June 9 Democratic primary. The winner faces Republican Bob McDonnell in November.

"You got to win this election," Clinton told Democrats on Feb. 7 at the party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Day fundraiser at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.

"You should urge this primary to be vigorous, but you should remember how long we have worked for this moment," he said, noting Democrats' newfound national popularity after Barack Obama's victory.

"Stay together, work together, prove to the American people they made the right decision."

McAuliffe was head of the Democratic National Committee during Clinton's presidency. He later ran Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign.

In February 2008, ahead of the Democratic presidential primary in Virginia, Clinton campaigned for his wife in Richmond, Chesapeake, Abingdon and Blacksburg. Last October, he campaigned for Obama in Roanoke and in Richmond, at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Contact Andrew Cain at (804) 649-6645 or .