WILLIAMSBURG -- Virginia's three Democratic candidates for governor tried to sharpen their differences on a range of issues in their first formal debate Sunday, but some of their most heated exchanges focused on campaign contributors rather than policy.

State Sen. Creigh Deeds of Bath County, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe of McLean and former state Del. Brian Moran of Alexandria traded rhetorical jabs for 90 minutes at the College of William and Mary, exposing some differences on issues such as transportation funding and gun control. But Deeds went after both of his rivals over how they are financing their campaigns, suggesting that both would be beholden to major contributors and hurt the Democratic Party's standing with middle-class voters.

"We will not be the party of the middle class if the nominee of this party is beholden to Donald Trump or Wall Street interests or to tainted defense contractors that got millions in earmarks from his brother in Congress," Deeds said during his closing statement. "We will have lost our way if we allow the Wall Street establishment or a corrupt political establishment to control our agenda for the next four years."

Deeds was referring to large contributions McAuliffe has received from wealthy contributors such as Trump, and to donations Moran has received from defense contractors with business before his brother, U.S. Rep. James Moran, D-Alexandria.

McAuliffe already has raised $5 million and received 34 donations of $25,000 or more in the first three months of this year. While most of his campaign cash has come from outside of Virginia, McAuliffe pointed out Sunday that he raised more from Virginians than Deeds or Moran in the first quarter of this year, a period in which he swamped his two rivals in fundraising.

McAuliffe said after the debate that his contributors want nothing more than to keep a Democrat in the governor's mansion and that his relationships with prominent businesspeople would be important in his effort to create jobs in the state.

"I'd rather have people who can turn around and bring jobs to Virginia," McAuliffe said.

McAuliffe also made much of the fact that he won't accept money from companies that received federal bailout money or from the political action committee of Dominion Virginia Power.

Moran made no apologies for receiving contributions from defense contractors, particularly Virginia-based firms.

"This Democrat will not be afraid to talk about the defense of this country," Moran said. "We need to create jobs here in Virginia with Virginia companies, Virginia workers, protecting our Virginians who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan."

The three candidates appeared before an audience of 500 people in an event sponsored by The Farm Team, an organization launched to recruit and mentor women to seek political office. It was the first of five debates the candidates will have before their June 9 primary. The Democratic nominee will face Republican Bob McDonnell, the former attorney general, in an election that already is drawing national attention.

Deeds, Moran and McAuliffe agreed on most major issues, such as raising Virginia teachers' salaries to the national average and generating renewable energy jobs, and bashed McDonnell for his opposition to receiving $125 million in enhanced federal unemployment benefits.

All three candidates said new transportation financing must be a top priority, but none offered details on how they would find money for the state's road and transit needs. Moran took credit for backing a transportation plan advanced by Gov. Tim Kaine last year and chided Deeds for not doing more to support the governor's proposal. Deeds backed a plan developed in the Democrat-controlled Senate that included a gasoline tax increase.

McAuliffe said that he would not look to tax increases or spending cuts to finance his ambitious policy proposals, but instead would rely on an aggressive economic development push to generate new revenue.

"We need a governor who's going to grow the economy," McAuliffe said. "If you don't want the cuts, if you don't want to raise taxes, we've got to grow our economy."

All three candidates said they support requiring background checks for all firearms purchases at gun shows, but Moran noted that he and Deeds disagree over lifting a ban on concealed handguns in establishments that serve alcohol. Deeds this year voted for a bill that would remove the prohibition for people with concealed carry permits.

"I was not only a prosecutor, but I've been a bartender," Moran said. "Guns and alcohol do not mix."

Deeds received the National Rifle Association's endorsement in his 2005 race for attorney general against McDonnell. When debate moderator Andrea Mitchell of NBC News asked him if he would seek the endorsement again, Deeds said, "I'll seek endorsements from anybody willing to endorse me. ... Beggars can't be choosers, I guess."

All three candidates were critical of McDonnell, saying the Republican would reverse agendas advanced by Kaine and his Democratic predecessor, Mark Warner.

McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin, who attended the debate, said the three candidates appeared to be racing toward the political left and will have a tough time moving back to the center in the general election.

"You had three left-leaning candidates talking to a left-leaning room trying to out-liberal each other," Martin said. "While we're out talking to the entire electorate, they're talking to the far left of the electorate."