File Photo: Former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe speaks at the North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) 2019 legislative conference in Washington, U.S., April 10, 2019. (Xinhua/REUTERS)

WASHINGTON, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Terry McAuliffe, former governor of U.S. state of Virginia, announced Wednesday that he will not run for president in 2020.

"I love campaigning. I love fighting," McAuliffe told CNN's Chris Cuomo. "I would love to have been on that debate stage with Donald Trump, but, you know, we've got to move forward and we've got to bring our party together."

McAuliffe added that he intends to help coordinate the campaigns of the state's national and local Democrats in the future.

The announcement ended months of speculation around whether McAuliffe, who has been considering a bid for months, would enter the crowded Democratic field.

McAuliffe, 62, served as Virginia's governor from 2014 to 2018 and was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005.

He is also friendly with Bill and Hillary Clinton, serving as Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman in 2008.

A fierce critic of Trump, McAuliffe campaigned heavily for fellow Democrats during the 2018 midterm elections.