Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) said that former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE (D) must prove that he can hold his own in a debate setting against fellow Democrats if he hopes to face President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE in a general election.

In an interview with AM 970 "The Answer," McAuliffe told John Catsimatidis that voters will seek out the candidate with the best chance of beating Trump and the best ability to hold their own in a debate setting.

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"I think what [Democratic] voters are going to look at is who is the one person who can beat Trump. There is nothing that is going to motivate and mobilize our voters more then supporting a candidate who they think can beat Trump," the ex-Virginia governor said.

"Right now, that’s Joe Biden. Joe Biden has to do well in the debates. Everybody’s going to go after him … and he’s got to show that he can handle the pressure," McAuliffe continued. "Because, going up against Trump, you’ve got to have your full body armor on or you are out.”

McAuliffe is a longtime ally of Biden and in April spoke favorably about Biden's then-expected campaign while coming shy of an actual endorsement during an MSNBC interview.

He said earlier this year that he would not run for president himself after previously hinting at a bid for the presidency, telling MSNBC that he would focus on efforts to boost Democratic candidates in Virginia, a swing state.

"We have the opportunity to pick up both the House and Senate. I invested a lot in that state and I love that state. We’ve got to win the House and the Senate in that state,” McAuliffe said in April.