Hillary Clinton takes the fight to Donald Trump, Republicans in Virginia

NORFOLK, Va. -- Hours before voters in 11 states, including Virginia, hold Democratic nominating contests on Tuesday, Hillary Clinton set her sights on the general election.

The former secretary of state's stump speech spent little time on her rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, instead positioning herself as the best candidate in a likely general election contest with Donald Trump.

Reprising a line that she's used in other speeches around the country, Clinton declared that she "personally believe[s] America is and always has been great."

"What we need to do is make America whole again," Clinton said Monday in Norfolk, calling for a debate that focuses on "issues, not insults."

Later, she called Trump's rhetoric, particularly when it comes to Muslims, "not only offensive," but "dangerous."

"It matters what you say when you run for president and it really matters if you are president," she said. 

Clinton made just brief mention of Sanders here, referring to him not by name but as my "esteemed opponent," attacking his plan to provide free tuition at public colleges and universities.

Virginia is home to one of Super Tuesday's biggest contests, and a key step on Clinton's path to the Democratic nomination.

Virginia is home to one of Super Tuesday's biggest contests, and a key step on Clinton's path to the Democratic nomination. Polls show her on track for a win here over Sanders, who she has led here throughout the cycle. A recent Monmouth University survey found Clinton winning an overwhelming 60% of likely Democratic voters.

Clinton also has deep ties to Virginia. The state's governor, Terry McAuliffe, chaired Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.

Rallying the crowd before Clinton took the stage on Monday, McAuliffe declared that "Virginia is Clinton country."

But this is also a general election battleground state. Then-candidate Barack Obama won the state the 2008 general election, a first for a Democratic presidential nominee since President Lyndon B. Johnson won Virginia in 1964.

Here in Norfolk, Clinton embraced Obama, declaring that "I don't think President Obama gets the credit he deserves."

The crowd shouted and applauded in approval.

Trump, who campaigned hours away in Radford, Virginia earlier in the day has seemed for some time to be focused on a Trump versus Clinton general election matchup.

"Honestly, she should not be allowed to run," Trump said of Clinton Monday, adding that "Bernie Sanders is over, he took a big beating. Took a big beating."

Trump also seemed to suggest enthusiasm would be a drag on Clinton in the general election, pointing to the turnout in South Carolina, a state that Clinton handily won over Sanders.

"I drew... the Republicans drew... so many more votes. Like double. And they went down because there's no enthusiasm for Hillary. None,” Trump said. 

"Whether people like me or not," he continued, "there is enthusiasm on the Republican side. That I can tell you. There is enthusiasm. Big, big, big enthusiasm."

“We went way up because, whether people like me or not, there is enthusiasm on the Republican side. That I can tell you. There is enthusiasm. Big, big, big enthusiasm."

Clinton and Trump will both end "Super Tuesday" in Florida. Clinton is holding her Super Tuesday evening rally in Miami, while Trump will hold a press event in Palm Springs, Florida.

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