Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe made fundraising trips to Chicago, Los Angeles and Phoenix last week to beef up his already considerable campaign treasury. As a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, McAuliffe is known for his fundraising ability. He already has begun running television ads in Virginia, more than three months in advance of the June 9 Democratic primary.

The three Democratic candidates for governor still have a whole lot of persuading to do, a poll of potential Virginia Democratic voters shows. The poll by Raleigh, N.C.-based Public Policy Polling shows that almost half the voters—46 percent—are undecided about whom they will vote for in the June 9 Democratic primary. Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe has the support of 21 percent, to 19 percent for former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria. State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County receives 14 percent.

The four men vying to be the next governor tried their hand at telling jokes to reporters at last night’s Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association dinner. Maybe they should stick to their day jobs. Three Democrats who face off in a June 9 primary—former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe, state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria—shared the bill with Attorney General Bob McDonnell, the presumptive Republican nominee.

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.

Alicia Kozakiewicz, who survived being abducted as a child, urged Virginia legislators yesterday not to cut the Internet safety funding she helped secure 10 months ago. Kozakiewicz, the namesake of “Alicia’s Law,“ stood beside state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, and Del. Phillip A. Hamilton, R-Newport News, to call for the funding, which is not included in the 2010 budget.

Terry McAuliffe, who told supporters in a video message yesterday that he will formally announce his candidacy for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination on Wednesday, has lived in McLean for 16 years but has never run for office in Virginia.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian J. Moran proposed yesterday that his two Democratic opponents pledge to refuse campaign contributions from out-of-state donors.

Del. Brian J. Moran, D-Alexandria, is quitting as a part-time legislator to run full time for governor. The move frees Moran, a 12-year lawmaker, not only to run flat-out for the Democratic nomination, but to raise money in the early run-up to the June primary.

Democratic leaders rejoiced yesterday over their election successes but were warned not to let up next year when Virginia elects its next governor.

With three Democrats lining up to run for Virginia governor next fall, none of the candidates should expect a holiday endorsement from the current occupant of the Executive Mansion. “I’m going to be neutral in this race,“ Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, a fellow Democrat, said yesterday, referring to Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria, state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County and former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe of McLean.