Former Congressman Tony Coelho and Democratic fundraiser Michael Fraioli are telling their contacts that Terry McAuliffe "is running for governor" of Virginia and needs help raising money before the Dec. 31 campaign finance reporting deadline.

In an email, Coelho and Fraioli are directing people to McAuliffe's website so they can make a contribution.

"Please excuse us for the mass email," the two write. "As the subject line of this email indicates, and we suspect you already know, our friend Terry McAuliffe is running for governor of Virginia....forward this email with your own message encouraging your friends to make a contribution to Terry's campaign. Please make your contribution before December 31."

The email suggests McAuliffe, who had said he will wait until Jan. 7 before officially announcing whether he would be a candidate, has begun ramping up his fundraising operation.

Coehlo served in the House of Represenatives from 1978 to 1989. In the late 1980s, he was the House Majority Whip, but resigned after his name surfaced during the Savings and Loan scandal. Coehlo was never charged with any wrong-doing and later became chairman of Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign. Fraioli heads up a Democratic consulting and fundraising firm in the District, Fraioli & Associates.

By Tim Craig  |  December 22, 2008; 10:42 AM ET
Categories:  2009 Governor's Race , Terry McAuliffe , Tim Craig Share This:  E-Mail | Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble Previous: Democratic Candidates Give to Others
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