Former President Bill Clinton is making a return visit to West Virginia in two weeks.
Clinton will be the keynote speaker for the state Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner on Oct. 2 at the Charleston Civic Center. The dinner is the party's major fundraiser each year.
"President Clinton's core Democratic message of putting people first, making sure the rich pay their fair share in taxes, and investing in our young people is tailor-made for the situation we face in West Virginia," said Chris Regan, vice chairman of the state Democratic Party. "Welcoming him to our state at this crucial moment in history will lift the spirits of Democrats statewide."
Clinton's wife, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, is making a second run for president. In 2008, she won West Virginia's Democratic primary by a wide margin, but President Obama defeated her in the national race.
Bill Clinton was the last Democrat to carry West Virginia in a presidential general election in 1996. He received 51.5 percent of the vote that year.
Clinton, who served as president from 1993 to 2001, remains popular in the Mountain State.
"President Clinton has a great relationship with the people of West Virginia and we are more than excited that he will be joining us this year," said Belinda Biafore, Democratic Party chairwoman in West Virginia.
Clinton has been a frequent visitor to the state.
This will be Clinton's second appearance at Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner in West Virginia. He headlined the event in 2007, prompting record ticket sales. It was the first time that a president - former or current - had attended the dinner.
In 2008, Clinton campaigned for his wife in West Virginia, and two years later spoke at a rally for Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. Clinton also gave the commencement address at West Virginia University's graduation ceremony in 2010.
Tickets for this year's Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner can be purchased by calling 304-342-8121 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays. All individual floor tickets are sold out. General admission and table floor tickets are still available.
Reach Eric Eyre at ericeyre@wvgazette.com, 304-348-4869 or follow @ericeyre on Twitter.