Clinton: Party must hold support

Former President Bill Clinton told Virginia Democrats last night that the party must maintain its new level of support nationally by respecting Americans' trust in the party and focusing on how to solve problems.

"The only thing that will make it work is that we think our differences are interesting but our common humanity matters more," Clinton said at the Democrats' JeffersonJackson Day dinner, an annual fundraiser.

Clinton also took note of the three-way battle for the party's gubernatorial nomination in a June 9 primary. He urged Virginia Democrats to prize unity and not partisanship.

"You got to win this election," he said. "You should urge this primary to be vigorous, but you should remember how long we have worked for this moment. Stay together, work together, prove to the American people they made the right decision."

The party's annual fundraiser drew about 3,000 people to the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Dolled-up Democrats plunked down roughly $175 for seats, earning the party an estimated $700,000 or more.

Democrats, who come from all across the state for the J-J dinner, were there to see Clinton as much as they were to hear the three men who hope to succeed Gov. Timothy M. Kaine in the Executive Mansion.

The three rivals, state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County, former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria and Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, were to address the crowd later in the evening.

In a nearly 30-minute speech, Clinton referred to a trend dating to 1976 in which Virginia voters follow a presidential election by electing a governor of the other party.

"You've got to make just a little more history in 2009," he said.

All three candidates hope to continue Virginia Democrats' winning streak in statewide races, which began when Mark R. Warner was elected governor in 2001.

Last November, Warner won a U.S. Senate seat, Virginia Democrats picked up three U.S. House seats and Barack Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since 1964.

For this year's hopefuls, last night was a major opportunity to attract support -- foot soldiers and check-writers.

McAuliffe tried to make a splash. He showed up at the convention center with a high school drum line. His signs were plastered on posts around the venue lining the median in Broad Street.

Guests using the entrance at Fifth and Marshall streets walked between huge banners and under prom-style hanging letters that read: "Terry." The saturation continued inside, where McAuliffe's campaign had bought 39 tables.

Deeds and Moran brought a more understated presence to the event but had booths with crowds of supporters in the hall.

The three-way battle is shaping up as the most competitive fight for a Democratic gubernatorial nomination since 1985, when Attorney General Gerald L. Baliles, the eventual winner, faced off against Lt. Gov. Richard J. Davis.

In excerpts from his remarks, Deeds said he would stand up against "corporate greed" and defend the middle class.

"If you want a nominee who will take on that corporate greed, if you want a candidate who believes we can solve things with cooperation not confrontation, if you want a nominee who is on the side of the middle class, then join our cause," he said.

Kasey Forehand and Kirby Purcell drove from Lynchburg to attend their first J-J dinner to catch a glimpse of Clinton and assess the candidates who hope to succeed Kaine.

"We're both very much Democrats, but it is a great opportunity to get to be in the same room with Mr. Clinton," Forehand said.

Purcell, who like many other guests brought Clinton's books in hopes of snagging a signature, said the state's Democrats have to keep the momentum.

The crowd at last night's dinner was thinner than last year's, when Democrats flocked to hear two historic presidential contenders, Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6061 or .