A June 2 fundraiser for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Ted Strickland will occur without its star attraction – Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who faces a federal investigation related to campaign donations.

A June 2 fundraiser for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Ted Strickland will occur without its star attraction – Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who faces a federal investigation related to campaign donations.

The event, hosted by former Ohio House Rep. John Patrick Carney in Clintonville, had been long scheduled.

In a statement, David Bergstein, a spokesman for Strickland, said simply: �Governor McAuliffe will no longer be attending this event.�

McAuliffe has denied any wrongdoing, and has not been formally charged or accused with a crime, but multiple news outlets have reported that he is being investigated on donations to his gubernatorial campaign.

Strickland, a former Ohio governor, hopes to unseat Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, in November. In a statement, Portman spokeswoman Michawn Rich said Strickland "iswilling to do or say anything to raise money for his failing campaign -- until the public finds out about it."

Update: McAuliffe was asked about the fundraiser by reporters Thursday, and said he pulled out of the event.

�I told him I didn�t want any distractions for him. He�s got a critical Senate race,� McAuliffe told the Washington Post.

�I told Ted he needs to focus on his race, and I told him we�ll reschedule in a month or two,� McAuliffe said. Later, he said, �I got plenty of time to campaign for him in the fall.�