HOT SPRINGS, Va. -- About 500 Republican activists from across Virginia gathered Friday at the Homstead Resort in the Allegheny Mountains in the far western part of the state for the 25th annual GOP Advance. They will attend speeches, receptions and training sessions throughout the weekend.

Most candidates running statewide next year hosted parties, including Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, running for governor, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, running for re-election and the three men running for attorney general, John Brownlee, the former top prosecutor for Virginia's western district, David M. Foster, former chairman of the Arlington County School Board, and state Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax).

Those five candidates, as well as Alexandria lawyer Patrick Muldoon who is running for lieutenant governor, were certified to appear on the ballot in 2009. When news broke at a meeting of the party's governing body that McDonnell had been certified, the crowd stood up and applauded.

U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor and Prince William Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart also hosted parties.

Others spotted at the Advance: Jerry Kilgore, former attorney general and Republican nominee for governor in 2005, former governor James S. Gilmore, who lost the Senate race last month, and a handful of legislators, including House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem).

Prince William County Chairman Corey A. Stewart (R-At Large) made his third appearance before members of Congress today.

This time Stewart provided testimony to Republican members of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration. The subject on tap this Sept. 11 was, "Unnecessary Crimes: The Toll of Illegal Alien Criminal on American Families."

The hearing was stacked with a sympathetic audience. Tears interrupted the emotional testimony of the victims' families.

But by the time the hearing turned to Stewart and a Houston Police Officers Union representative, the tears were substituted with applause.

"Local leadership alone cannot get the job done," Stewart said, after citing crime rate statistics and telling stories about crimes committed in Prince William.

When he spoke to the subcommittee a year ago, all its members were there. This time, only the GOP members heard what he had to say.

"I am disappointed to see that the majority party no longer considers this issue a priority," Stewart said. "Unfortunately, at the local level, we don't have the luxury to ignore it."

MINNEAPOLIS -- Virginia delegates and other guests from the state gathered last night to play pool, air hockey and other games at the delegation's "Arcade Night" welcome party at the Minneapolis hotel where they are staying this week for the Republican National Convention.

The atmosphere was festive despite news that most of Monday's convention activities would be canceled due to concern about Hurricane Gustav hitting the Gulf Coast.

Among those in the crowd were Pat Boone, the 1950s singer turned conservative commentator; John H. Hager, former lieutenant governor and father-in-law to Jenna Bush; and U.S. Reps. Tom Davis and Thelma Drake.

Drake, who is in a tough re-election battle in Hampton Roads, was the only elected official from Virginia scheduled to speak during the convention until her speech on Monday was postponed, perhaps canceled, because of Gustav. Drake, who had planned on flying back to Virginia Tuesday, said she was disappointed she would probably not speak after all.

"Everyone understands the impact of the storm,'' she said.