WASHINGTON -- With money pouring into Virginia legislative races, former President Bill Clinton on Friday helped Democrats in the commonwealth raise $1 million for their campaign coffers.
At a fundraiser at the McLean home of former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe, the former president criticized Tea Party activists and the notion that government is standing in the way of the nation's success. "I got a pretty good idea how the 21st century works, and there's not a single successful country on the planet that operates on the theory that the government is the problem. Not one," Clinton said, according to Patch. "Every successful country has both a strong private economy and a smart strong government that work together to try to create economic opportunity, educational opportunity, provide decent health care and get a good future."
According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the event's host, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2009, may consider a run in 2013. In the meantime, McAuliffe stressed the importance of keeping the state Senate in Democratic hands. "We've got two seats we've got to keep, and we know what they'll do -- we've seen the bills they've done in the House of Delegates the one thing that can stop them are these people behind me and those 22 great Democrats."
McAuliffe said that the event was the biggest money haul in Virginia General Assembly history. As Patch reports, guests paid between $1,000 and $10,000 to attend the fundraiser at McAuliffe's house. "Folks, we need money to fight, because we know we're right on the issues," McAuliffe said. "And if you don't fight, you don't win."
More from Patch, including a photo gallery.
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