Related: Small town of Chesapeake ready for Clinton's big visit

PARKERSBURG -- President Bill Clinton says his wife won't back down from a fight with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama no matter how contentious the race becomes.

Speaking to several hundred supporters in Parkersburg on Wednesday, the former president said division among the Democratic presidential candidates is nothing to be concerned about, and if politicians don't want to get "beat up,'' they shouldn't run.

Clinton rejected calls from some "elite'' members of the Democratic Party who are suggesting his wife bow out of the race so as not to divide the party.

He says now is not the time, as his wife is gaining ground on Obama.

"Let's just saddle up and have an argument. What's wrong with that?''

Clinton told crowds in Parkersburg, Beckley and the Kanawha County community of Chesapeake that his wife has better plans than Obama on the economy, health care and the war in Iraq.

While speaking in Chesapeake, Clinton said people should not base their vote for Hillary solely on his record as president.

"It's not just my record, it's Hillary's conviction,'' he said.

Clinton addressed the same themes in Beckley, his third stop of the day.

Hillary Clinton, a U.S. senator from New York, visited Charleston and Huntington last week, one day before her rival from Illinois made stops in Charleston and Beckley.

Read more in Thursday's Charleston Gazette.

Related: Small town of Chesapeake ready for Clinton's big visit

PARKERSBURG -- President Bill Clinton says his wife won't back down from a fight with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama no matter how contentious the race becomes.

Speaking to several hundred supporters in Parkersburg on Wednesday, the former president said division among the Democratic presidential candidates is nothing to be concerned about, and if politicians don't want to get "beat up,'' they shouldn't run.

Clinton rejected calls from some "elite'' members of the Democratic Party who are suggesting his wife bow out of the race so as not to divide the party.

He says now is not the time, as his wife is gaining ground on Obama.

"Let's just saddle up and have an argument. What's wrong with that?''

Clinton told crowds in Parkersburg, Beckley and the Kanawha County community of Chesapeake that his wife has better plans than Obama on the economy, health care and the war in Iraq.

While speaking in Chesapeake, Clinton said people should not base their vote for Hillary solely on his record as president.

"It's not just my record, it's Hillary's conviction,'' he said.

Clinton addressed the same themes in Beckley, his third stop of the day.

Hillary Clinton, a U.S. senator from New York, visited Charleston and Huntington last week, one day before her rival from Illinois made stops in Charleston and Beckley.

Read more in Thursday's Charleston Gazette.