Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and Democratic caucus leader Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria, swung through Roanoke on Thursday to raise money for the homestretch of 11 hotly contested races for seats in the House of Delegates.

Moran said those races included four in Southside and Western Virginia:

>> A 9th District battle between Democrat Eric Ferguson and Republican Charles Poindexter for an open seat created by the retirement of Del. Allen Dudley, R-Rocky Mount.

>> A race in the 7th District between Democratic challenger Peggy Frank and incumbent Republican Del. Dave Nutter, R-Christiansburg.

>> A 5th District race between incumbent Del. Bill Carrico, R-Grayson County, and Democratic challenger Suzie Dixon Garner.

>> A 14th District race between incumbent Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, and Democratic challenger Adam Tomer.

Warner and Moran stumped for cash at a Shenandoah Club fundraiser hosted by Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke. About 30 people attended the event, where suggested donations ranged from $250 to $2,500.

Moran said that while he considers none of the races to be "low-hanging fruit," there is a good environment for Democrats in Virginia this year. He said that the unpopularity of the Iraq war, President Bush and congressional Republicans has contributed to that, but gave credit also to Warner and Gov. Tim Kaine for helping revitalize a party that had until the past decade dominated state politics.

"We really have a great environment: It began with Mark and is being continued by Tim Kaine, but we also have individuals who are able to take advantage of it," Moran said.

House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, suggested Moran may be over-optimistic, particularly when it comes to the four races targeted in Southside and Southwest Virginia.

"We won't know until Election Day but I think they're mistaken," Griffith said. "Our indicators are very, very good in all of the races they claim to have targeted."

Griffith said he feels that most Virginians tend to prefer conservative candidates. And he suggested that even moderate Democrats contribute to a more liberal tone in Richmond, because they'll likely be supporting party leadership based largely in Northern Virginia.

For his part, Warner struck a less partisan tone, giving credit to some Republicans for working with him to pass a 2004 overhaul of the state tax code. Some of Warner's visit was geared toward his planned run for a U.S. Senate seat next year. Before the fundraiser, he visited the new Roanoke Fire/EMS Station No. 1 on Franklin Road. There, he toured the facility and met with firefighters and emergency medical technicians.

Warner also toured the art museum currently under construction on Salem Avenue. During his speech at the fundraiser, Warner plugged it, along with other projects in downtown Roanoke, as something special.

"For those of you who live here, you may not fully appreciate how special this community is," Warner said. "I get a chance to visit an awful lot of communities, and there is no midsize community I know anywhere in Virginia, for that matter anywhere in the country, that has got as much vibrancy, particularly downtown, as your city."