Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) appointed retiring delegate Kenneth R. Melvin (D-Portsmouth) to fill a vacancy on the Portsmouth Circuit Court.

"With this appointment, Ken will have another opportunity to build upon his record of dedicated service to the Commonwealth," Kaine said. "I have known and admired Ken for the keen analytical abilities and reasoned judgment he brought to legislative debates. I look forward to his continued service."

Melvin, one of the longest-serving members of the House Courts of Justice Committee, is credited with defending civil rights and supporting the disadvantaged. He was elected in 1985 to represent parts of Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Norfolk.

House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) has been named the national chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council for 2009.

The group represents a network of 2,000 state legislators "committed to the fundamental Jeffersonian principles of limited government, free enterprise, federalism and individual liberty,'' according to a press release.

"Exploring and learning from what other states are doing and recognizing the need to change, adapt, innovate and improve lie at the very heart of what ALEC is all about,'' Howell said. "It's what has made ALEC such a powerful force against the status quo and for a more free and prosperous future."

Howell, first elected a delegate in 1987, has led the 100-member chamber since 2003.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) has set Jan. 6 as the date for voters to go to the polls to elect a replacement for Del. Terrie Lynne Suit (R-Virginia Beach) who resigned to become a lobbyist.

"It is important that we have a delegate in place when the session begins on January 14th," Kaine said. "Holding the special election on January 6th will allow the new delegate to participate in the legislative session and to represent the interests of citizens of the district."

State law prohibits special elections 30 days after a general election. The last date to file to run for the seat is Dec. 8.

The 81st House District includes parts of the cities of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake .

Suit resigned to run Williams Mullen's Hampton Roads lobbying operation. Her last day was Oct. 12. Her 1999 election led to Virginia's first-ever Republican majority in the House.

In its annual review of the General Assembly, the business coalition Virginia Foundation for Research and Economic Education penalized each legislator for failing to pass a transportation plan during this summer's failed special session.

Virginia FREE's 24-page report opens with a statement on the partisan bickering that left the General Assembly unable to pass a plan to provide money for roads and transit.

"We have not only a shortage of transportation dollars, but also a shortage of courage and leadership needed to elevate good governance above short-term partisan gain," it says.

The group rates legislators using their voting records on key bills and business lobbyist evaluations.

Republicans scored on an average rating of 59; Democrats scored an average rating of 46. Delegates scored an average rating of 53; senators scored an average rating of 52.

The Virginia Campaign for Change, an offshoot of Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign funded by the Democratic National Committee, will register voters at gas stations across the state today.

State Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) and Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris will participate in the events, which will take place in Arlington, Charlottesville and Richmond.

"Motorists who are fed up with sky-high oil company profits made on the backs of consumers paying higher prices at the pump will have the opportunity to register to vote -- and help Barack Obama put in place a new energy policy that will give relief to middle class families and break our addiction to foreign oil,'' according to a press release.

Obama has talked about providing families with a $1,000 middle-class tax cut and spending $150 billion in renewable and other clean sources of energy.

Details of the events are below:

Thousands of people withstood the 90-plus-degree heat today for the unveiling of a monument outside the state Capitol that commemorates those who helped bring about the end of school segregation across the state and nation.

They included NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, actor Blair Underwood, poet Nikki Giovanni, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, former governor Mark R. Warner, Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, House Speaker William J. Howell and several other members of the General Assembly.

But L. Douglas Wilder, the nation's first elected black governor, who now serves as Richmond's mayor, was noticeably absent.

If you are eagerly awaiting a breakthrough in the standoff over transportation between Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) and House Republican leaders, you should probably go onto the next posting.

They haven't even been talking.

When state legislators left Richmond June 26 after failing to reach a consensus on transportation funding, Gov. Kaine called Howell (R-Stafford) and Majority Whip M. Kirkland Cox (R-Colonial Heights) into his office to talk. But the meeting lasted only a few minutes, according to Cox and Howell, both of whom described it as a waste of time.

LIUNA, the Laborers' International Union of North America, began radio ads today in several area across the state "urging progress on the state's transportation crisis that negatively affects working people every day."

The ads will run in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond and Fredericksburg through Wednesday when the General Assembly returns to the state Capitol to try once again to find money for road and transit projects.

"Investing in Virginia's transportation system will dramatically improve safety and quality of life, while creating 50,000 good jobs in local economies," said Terence M. O'Sullivan, LIUNA General President. "Delegates in the Virginia House must take care of Virginia's basic priorities - the roads, highways, bridges and transit systems that the working men and women of the state rely on every day. It's time to build Virginia so Virginia works."

Shortly after Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) called a special session to try to tackle transportation funding issues, the governor gave a blunt assessment of what he hoped to accomplish by advocating a tax increase even though he didn't have the support of the Republican-controlled House of Delegates.

"It will be very productive to either try to find a solution or make it plain to people who are standing in the way," Kaine said in an interview with The Washington Post in May. "We are going to make something happen or let the public see who is obstructing, and frankly, that is one of the reasons why Democrats have won elections in Virginia."

But 10 days into the special session on transportation -- legislators have been on vacation for six of those days -- it remains uncertain whether any solution will be found or whether the governor will score any of those political points.

Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) will pick up law enforcement endorsements for his 2009 gubernatorial campaign tonight in Northern Virginia - the home of his rival for the Democratic nomination, Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria, a former prosecutor.

Tonight's event is likely to be a boost for Deeds, who narrowly lost his bid for statewide office in 2005 and is already well known around the state. If Deeds can secure the Northern Virginia vote, he would be heavily favored to win the nomination.

The event at the Fairfax County Police Association Hall will include Sen. J. Chapman "Chap" Petersen (D-Fairfax), Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney Paul Ebert, Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Morrogh and former Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Bob Horan.

Senate Majority Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax), part jokingly but mostly serious, is urging his moderate Republican colleagues to leave the GOP and join the majority party in the Senate.

Speaking to reporters today, Saslaw made the public offer because he thinks the Republican Party has drifted to far to the right for some moderates. He singled out two moderate GOP senators - Minority Leader Thomas K. Norment (James City) and Kenneth W. Stolle (Virginia Beach) - as potential party switchers.

"They can leave that caucus and come over to our caucus," Saslaw said. "We don't have the rigid vote with your base 100 percent of the time or your fired rule."

After three days of bickering during the special session on transportation, legislators are starting to dispense with the niceties.

In debating a bill at the Rules Committee this morning, Del. R. Steven Landes (R-Augusta) started to use the term "Democrat friends" when he was quickly interrupted.

"Excuse me, did he say Democrat?'' House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry) asked. "I believe it's Democratic."

Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) defended Landes. "Friends was the important word,'' he said.

"Actually grammar matters. Sorry, Mr. Speaker," Del. Kristen J. Amundson (D-Fairfax) said.

When Landes resumed talking, he stayed away from the word and used the safer term "friends from the other side" instead.

As part of the General Assembly's ongoing special session, Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee will try Wednesday to push through proposals to increase Virginia's 17.5 cent a gallon gas tax to raise money for transportation.

Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) wants a 6 cent a gallon increase, which will be phased in over six years. Sen. Charles J. Colgan (D-Prince William), chairman of the Finance Committee, wants the tax raised 1.6 cents per year for 10 years. Saslaw notes Virginia's gas tax is far below the national average of 28.5 cents a gallon. Republicans, along with Democrats in the House, argue its irresponsible to raise the gas tax because consumers are already being hit with record fuel prices.

Former Democratic governor Mark R. Warner, a candidate for U.S. Senate, appears to be siding with the GOP and House Democrats in this debate.

Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick of Prince William, who vowed not to run for re-election next year if he was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, said he may reconsider that pledge.

"A lot of guys around here are trying to convince me,'' Frederick said during a House recess. "I really don't want to (run)...But if there's this huge call and everyone in the world wants me to run for re-election, I guess there is some chance. If the whole world says we're going to relieve you of your pledge."

Frederick said he is 99.9 percent sure he will not run but that he is continuing to raise money to help his wife, Amy, if she decides to run for his seat and to continue to pay for costs to serve his district over the next 18 months.

"I'm not relieving myself of my responsibilities in representing the people of the 52nd district,'' he said. Frederick said in May that he made his decision not to run for re-election because of concerns from party leaders that it would be too hard for him to be both a delegate and the leader of the state party. His most recent fundraising letter can be read below.

A poll commissioned by House Republicans in April found widespread opposition to higher taxes to pay for transportation, but it also includes responses that my make Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) optimistic about his own plan to raise additional revenue.

The survey, which House Republicans are using to help justify their resistance to a statewide tax increase, found that 68 percent of likely voters oppose of a five cent hike in the state's 17.5 cent a gallon gas tax. (This was in April, before the latest surge in gas prices.)

Residents in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads hold different views about paying more for gas.

Just last week, Del. William R. Janis (R-Goochland) criticized Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) for spending too much time on Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) presidential campaign, which included traveling to Texas to speak on his behalf at a Democratic party convention.

Today, Janis was one of the legislators picked by House Speaker William J. Howell to escort Kaine into the House chamber for his speech to the General Assembly on transportation.

"Are you sure he's not in Texas?'' Janis said as he left the House floor to meet Kaine.

Updated 5:38 p.m.

Del. Phil Hamilton (R-Newport News) and Sen. Jill Vogel (R-Winchester) responded to Kaine's remarks this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the list of bills introduced, continued to grow - considerably.

Updated 2:30 p.m.

Gov. Kaine addressed lawmakers, following a morning appearance with the Virginia Business Council.

"In Virginia, we don't make our reputations or improve our communities by delay or inaction," Kaine said in prepared remarks. "We rise and fall by our results. In the words of Cervantes, 'good actions ennoble us and we are the children of our deeds.'"

New bills introduced today...

Days before the General Assembly returns to Richmond for a special session on transportation Monday, many legislators still say they have little or no hope of reaching an agreement on how to fund road and transit projects.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) will address the Democratic caucuses of the House and Senate Sunday night and Monday morning and then the entire 140-member General Assembly at 1 p.m. to encourage them to pass a bill.

Republicans, and even many Democrats, are skeptical.

So what's going to happen next week during the special session on transportation? Probably not much, but who knows? So we are not even going to try to make a prediction. We'll leave that to others. Here is a sampling of predictions -- as a well as a few partisan shots -- from current and former state legislators and lobbyists.

As the 2008 Virginia Democratic Party convention draws to a close, here are eight observations about the weekend's events at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton.

1) If the Democrats' goal was to leave the convention united behind Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), they still have a lot of work to do. Surprisingly, numerous supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY.) said they weren't sure if they would vote for Obama in the fall.

Charlie Kelly will become executive director of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward, replacing Matt Felan, who announced today that he is launching his own independent fundraising company.

Kelly has served Kaine in various roles since 2005 and most recently has been the PAC's political director, facilitating campaign operations for legislative and local candidates across Virginia.

"I am pleased that Charlie will be serving as the new executive director of Moving Virginia Forward," Kaine said in a statement. "During my campaign and in our coordinated efforts that won back the state Senate, Charlie has served with great distinction and proven himself time and again. He has shown leadership and a real knack for getting the job done."

Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (Prince William), the newly elected chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, continues to shake up the leadership of the state party.

Since defeating former lieutenant governor John H. Hager for the chairman's job last weekend, many of the state party's senior staffers have resigned or been dismissed.

Frederick plans to announce today that Walter M. Curt, owner of Power Motors Inc, a Harrisonburg-based technology firm, will be the party's new finance chairman. Curt replaces Fred Malek, who resigned from his finance role at the state party last week. Malek still serves as the deputy national finance chairman for Arizona Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign.

Jeffrey Frederick, a conservative state delegate from Prince William, was elected chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia today at the state convention, defeating incument John H. Hager.

The vote tally was not announced this afternoon. Instead, Hager asked that Frederick be elected by acclamation after it became evident the incumbent had lost.

"The Republican Party is strong in many places around our great Virginia, but statewide we've got some issues," Frederick said.

Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling celebrated an early birthday with hundreds of supporters tonight at the state Republican convention in downtown Richmond.

The state's two top Republicans have been appearing frequently together in recent weeks to promote their ticket for governor and lieutenant governor in 2009. They offered drinks and cake with the words "2009 Winning Team" written in icing to toast their shared birthday of June 15.

"Bill and I don't just share a birthday, we share the same beliefs,'' McDonnell said to a packed room.

Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) hasn't even announced that he is running for governor next year but two of his colleagues are eyeing his leadership position as Democratic caucus chairman, the second-highest ranking Democrat in the House.

Del. Kristen J. Amundson (D-Fairfax), caucus political director, and Del. Lionell Spruill Sr. (D-Chesapeake), caucus vice chairaman, are vying for the job if -- and when -- Moran choses to step down.

Moran is expected to run for the Democratic nomination for governor against Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) but he does not have to resign from his House seat or his leadership post.

In honor of Memorial Day, the state's top Republicans, Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, paid tribute in a ceremony at the state Capitol to Virginia soldiers who died in the last year. A pair of F-18 fighter jets and Blackhawk helicopters flew overhead.

It was the second year that McDonnell - a likely candidate for governor next year - has organized the event.

Last year, people in downtown Richmond were alarmed by the loud noise made by the fighter jets so this year, the Attorney General's Office tried to make sure more people knew about the event.

Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria, who is expected to run for the Democratic nomination for governor next year, has opened an office in downtown Richmond.

Moran, who is chairman of the Democratic caucus in the House of Delegates, had all his staff (about seven people) working out of an office in Alexandria until last month. Now, one staffer who is raising money has been located a few blocks from the Capitol in Richmond. That office is likely to expand in the coming months.

The two candidates running in an increasingly bitter race to be chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia will debate in Northern Virginia next week.

John H. Hager, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, and Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (R-Prince William) will debate at 7:30 p.m. May 22 at the Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield.

The debate is organized by the Fairfax, Prince William and Arlignton Young Republican Clubs.

As lawmakers prepare to head back to town next month to try to resolve how to finance transportation projects, it is looking increasingly like the special session might repeat of the pattern of the past two years.

That pattern goes something like this: Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), backed by some Democratic lawmakers, pushes a big tax increase. House Republicans, most of whom have little connection to heavily congested Northern Virginia, kill the proposal. Lawmakers leave town knowing full well it's only a matter of time before they return to repeat the entire exercise.

House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) sent a letter to Virginia Republicans encouraging them to re-elect John H. Hager chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia on May 31.

Unfortunately, one of the recipients was the wife of Hager's opponent, Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (R-Prince William).

A clearly angry Amy Frederick sent letter back to Howell today, defending her husband and demanding an apology.

"I realize Jeff is a young go-getter and that rubs the old guard the wrong way,'' she wrote. "Yet, just because you've known Jeff's opponent for over 20 years, as you stated in your letter, doesn't excuse this sort of conduct."

Read below for text of both letters:

Del. Jennifer L. McClellan, a superdelegate who had endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, announced today that she is switching her support to Sen. Barack Obama after his strong showing in this week's primaries.

"The time has come to support Sen. Obama as our likely nominee,'' said McClellan, an African American woman from Richmond. "The time has come for us to come together as a party."

McClellan, who endorsed Clinton in December, agonized in recent weeks about her decision, calling it "the most stressful thing I've been through in my whole life." She said that she gradually changed her mind after watching Obama win recent primaries and realizing he will probably be the Democratic nominee.

Del Dwight Clinton Jones (D-Richmond) announced yesterday that he will run for mayor of Richmond.

L. Douglas Wilder, Richmond's current mayor and the nation's first black governor, has hinted that he will run for re-election despite a string of bad publicity lately.

As the political establishment reels over a bad case of deja vu, lawmakers are struggling to figure out what to do in the recurring battle over how to raise more money for transportation.

The state Supreme Court's Feb. 29 decision to toss out the regional taxing authorities in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, a cornerstone of last year's transportation deal, could soon lead to political chaos.

But as Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) and House and Senate leaders consider whether they can come up with a solution, a big question remains unresolved:

Has the window for addressing transportation closed?

Senate Democrats apparently have selective memory.

On Saturday, the Democratic caucus sent out a statement heralding its role in repealing the unpopular abusive driving fees. The statement noted that House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) and then Senate Majority Leader Walter A. Stosch (R-Henrico) stood together in July to defend the fees.

"Meanwhile, Democratic Senators were mounting efforts to repeal the legislation," the statement said.

But the statement failed to mention that Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) - who bolstered public opposition to the driving fee law by excluding out-of-state drivers - also stood with Howell and Stosch at that press conference. In fact, Kaine's role at the event was far more influential than the one played by Stosch.

Kaine, who has since changed his position, declared at the time the fees "affect poor drivers, not poor people."

During the lengthy House session Thursday afternoon, Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) challenged House Speaker William J. Howell about whether an amendment on a transportation bill was relevant.

As Howell considered the answer, he invited Marshall and the sponsor of the amendment, House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), to the front of the chamber to discuss the question. House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry) also joined them.

To say Del. R. Steven Landes (R-Augusta) was peeved with Armstrong's presence is an understatement.

Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William), who opposed the landmark transportation bill that the Virginia Supreme Court declared unconstitutional Friday, can't help but feel a little vindicated.

"Fours words: I told you so,'' said Marshall, one of the plaintiffs in the suit against the transportation plan. "I'm not going to say that. Look, last year when this thing was going on, I said I wanted an opinion that said this was constitutional. We never got it."

Marshall, who is running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate this year, said there were 17 votes in the House against the bill last year but he was the only one who filed a lawsuit.

Is he the only political winner today?

"The people are the winners,'' he said. "I just stood up for them."

The General Assembly is bombarding Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) with bills.

Generally the governor will have received about 50 to 100 bills by this time in the legislative session. But as of Friday morning, he had already received 451.

What does that mean?

Any bills Kaine receives before tomorrow (one week before the legislative session is expected to end) need to be signed, amended or vetoed within seven days. Any bills Kaine receives after Saturday do not need to be reviewed for 30 days.

At 1 p.m., the House of Delegates went into a pro forma session, a formality taken so they could move a slew of non-controversial bills forward so they can be debated Monday. At 1:04 p.m., they adjourned.

A total of eight legislators showed up, some in casual clothes. House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) took the speaker's chair.

Democrats credit an unlikely source with helping them get two judges confirmed to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Friday: Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Prince William).

Republicans had threatened to reject Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's two judicial picks unless their party was able to fill two other judicial openings on the State Corporation Commission and the Workers' Compensation Commission.

But behind closed doors, Lingamfelter lobbied fellow Republicans to allow the appointments, which included a former Prince William County Circuit Court judge.

Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Prince William) took to the House floor Thursday to criticize his fellow Northern Virginian colleague, Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria), for asking for money to fight online child predators in a tight budget year.

Moran, chairman of the House Democratic caucus and likely candidate for governor next year, responded with an uncharacteristically fiery speech that was met with cheers from his side of the room.

"Stand up for the schoolchildren of Virginia!'' he bellowed. "Let's walk the walk!"

Mark Bergman, chief of staff to House Democratic Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry), is leaving to take a position in the Capitol Hill office of U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH).

House Caucus Policy Director Claire Wilker will take Bergman's job as chief of staff and chief spokeswoman for the House Democratic Caucus.

Del. Timothy D. Hugo (R-Fairfax), who is serving his third term in the House, has been named assistant chairman for the House Republican caucus.

"I am delighted that Tim has agreed to accept this important responsibility," said Del. Samuel A. Nixon Jr. (R-Chesterfield), House Republican caucus chairman. "I look forward to leveraging his unique legislative skills and talents."

Former governor James S. Gilmore (R) praised the House of Delegates today for their efforts to stiffen regulations on payday lenders while taking a not-so-subtle jab at his potential rivial in this year's U.S. Senate race, former governor Mark R. Warner (D).

"It is no secret that payday lending stores opened under the leadership of Mark Warner and the bill he signed into law,'' Gilmore said in a statement. "Their loans are deceptive and they should at a minimum be held to the same standards as other small-loan lenders operating in Virginia. Mark Warner's decision to adopt this policy was wrong and ultimately the people of Virginia have rejected it."

For some members of the House of Delegates, the election has already started.

Since the legislative session started last month, Democrats have been targeting two Fairfax Republicans, Dels. David B. Albo and Thomas Davis Rust, who are up for re-election in 2009.

Each year when it is time for members of the General Assembly to report what gifts, trips and dinners they have received from lobbyists and others, Del. Phillip A. Hamilton (R-Newport news) always gets a special nod.

Hamilton, a Republican from Newport News, meticulously records every gift he receives -- even though many of them fall below the $50 threshold for reporting.

As expected, a Democratic proposal to rescind a Republican-written rule was killed today by a vote of 56 to 42 in the House.

Del. Robert H. Brink (D-Arlington) had asked his colleagues to change a rule that allows Speaker William J. Howell to bypass the usual committee process and send bills straight to the House floor for a vote.

Even the introductions are partisan in the House of Delegates.

Del. Lacey E. Putney, an Independent from Bedford who caucuses with Republicans, introduced two visiting members of Virginia's congressional delegation, Republican Reps. Thelma Drake and Robert J. Wittman.

A third member, Democrat Rep. James P. Moran Jr. was sitting close by but was not recognized until House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry) stood up to introduce him.

About half of the 21 Democrats in the Virginia Senate are planning to announce today they are supporting Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) bid for the White House.

Obama's list of supporters will likely included senators from every region of the state, including Janet D. Howell and Linda T. "Toddy" Puller, both of Fairfax, A. Donald McEachin of Richmond, R. Edward Houck of Spotsylvania and L. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth, according to sources close to the Obama campaign.

A group of students from Charlottesville and Albemarle County high schools didn't exactly experience southern hospitality when they visited the state Capitol yesterday.

During the House session, Del. David J. Toscano (D-Charlottesville) stood up to introduce the students, who were sitting in the gallery. But when Toscano said the students were members of the "Charlottesville Young Liberals" club, some GOP lawmakers started booing.

After initially being taken aback, Toscano responded by saying: "They are here to witness the process. Whatever you may think of what they may think, I hope you would give them a warm Capitol welcome and help educate them on how things work down here."

GOP aides stress the lawmakers who booed were joking, which is common in the sometimes unruly House chamber. Either way, the reception probably offers a lesson for the students on how things "work" in partisan Richmond this year.

Here is a list of delegates and senators who announced today they are supporting John McCain's bid for the Republican nomination for president.

Del. Christopher B. Saxman (R-Staunton)
Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax)
Del. Thomas D. Gear (R-Hampton)
Del. Philip A. Hamilton (R-Newport News)
Del. Terry G. Kilgore (R-Scott)

Is Del. Timothy D. Hugo (R-Fairfax) rethinking his decision not to run for Congress in the 11th congressional district?

Earlier this month, Hugo said he decided not to seek the GOP nomination to replace Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va), who announced yesterday he is retiring after 13 years in the House. With Davis now out of the race, Hugo may be reconsidering.

"I've had a lot of calls," said Hugo, who some Republicans believe would be their strongest candidate. "I need to talk to my wife. We'll see."

Some people in Richmond are already speculating about what Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), who just passed the midpoint of his term, plans to do when he leaves office in 2010. One option is future president of a college or university, including either the University of Virginia or Virginia Commonwealth University.

In an interview with Washington Post reporters and editors Wednesday night, Kaine wouldn't discuss what his future options are, but said he really enjoyed the "community building aspect" of being Richmond mayor and governor.

"I'm likely to do something that has a community building component," said Kaine, who said he could be interested in a job with non profit organization.

After three weeks of partisan bickering, House Democrats are asking House Republicans for weekly joint meetings between leaders of both parties.

A letter signed by House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) was sent to Republican leaders today.

Last week, bills that would have closed the so-called gun show "loophole" died in committee, in part with the help of Sen. John S. Edwards (D-Roanoke), who on Wednesday voted against advancing the bill to the floor of the Senate.

But today, Edwards -- whose district includes Virginia Tech -- tried to reopen the debate.

Stayed tuned for more partisan rancor coming up Monday in the Virginia House.

Del. Robert H. Brink (D-Arlington) will ask his House colleagues to vote to rescind a new Republican-written rule that allows Speaker William J. Howell to bypass the usual committee process and send bills straight to the House floor for a vote.

The first time that happened was Thursday when Democrats revolted and abstained from voting on a controversial labor bill. Republicans responded by using an obscure House rule to force almost all the Democrats to vote, against their wishes, on the bill.

This Week's Winners:

Tom Perriello - A Democratic candidate for Congress in the 5th District, Tom Perriello is being touted as a possible serious challenger to Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Va) this year. Some Democrats in Richmond say Perriello, who raised $263,000 last year, will be well funded, considering the relatively cheap television advertisements costs in southern Virginia. Goode remains heavily favored to win, but Perriello can't be disappointed with the free press he got this week in the Martinsville Bulletin and the Roanoke Times. You can find the articles here and here.

Hundreds of activists on both sides of the gun control debate crammed into the General Assembly's office building Monday to lobby for or against measures addressing the issue.

Many of the gun rights activists were armed, which is legal under Virginia's concealed weapons law. The spectacle of armed men and women trolling the halls of the General Assembly makes some lawmakers nervous, especially those who represent areas of the state that generally support gun control.

John Pierce, cofounder of Open Carry.org, said he and other activists got into the same elevator as Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) at one point on Monday.

John H. Hager said today he plans to seek a full term as chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, despite a challenge from Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (R-Prince William).

Hager, who became chairman in July after Ed Gillespie joined the Bush administration, said he wants to continue his efforts to put forward "a reform agenda" for the state party.

"I am not in a career job and I think I can do a good job," Hager said. "We are in good shape financially, which had not been the case before...We are working on being more of a service organization for our elected officials. ... I am imminently involved with all these pieces of the building blocks, so it is probably not a good time to make a change."

Did Virginia Democrats just beat House Republicans at their own game?

Del. Christopher B. Saxman (R-Staunton) sponsored a bill that would ban any legislator or statewide official from attending a fundraising event to benefit a political party during the legislative session.

The proposal, which was defeated last year, was seen as a partisan swipe at the Democratic Party of Virginia, which holds its biggest fundraiser, the Jefferson-Jackson Day celebration, in the middle of the legislative session.

Del. Frank D. Hargrove Sr., a Republican from suburban Richmond, apparently doesn't believe in the phrase "think globally, act locally."

At a House Rules Committee hearing today, Hargrove couldn't understand why Dels. David L. Englin (D-Alexandria) and Kenneth R. Plum (D-Fairfax) sponsored a bill to create a permanent commission to study climate change.

"Virginia is a small dot on the map," Hargrove said. "When you look at the entire universe, what advantage do we have to duplicate what the federal government and what international organizations are already doing?"

Englin said states are taking the lead in addressing the issue because the federal government is not doing their part.

"We have a significant population and a significant economy and therefore a potential significant impact on this issue," Englin said.

When it comes to watching how Virginia's laws are really made, there is no better venue than the House Courts of Justice Committee, which takes up hundreds of bills each year dealing with the criminal code. Legislation that can mean the difference between a fine and a lengthy jail term are churned through the committee in a matter of minutes, with little or no debate.

Earlier today, the committee gave tentative approval, without debate, to a bill by Del. Jennifer L. McClellan (D-Richmond) to make it a class six felony to steal a cat. A few minutes later, the committee gave tentative approval to a bill by Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) to charge someone with a class 1 misdemeanor if they coerce a woman to have an abortion against her will.

Sounds simple enough.

This week's winners

House Speaker William J. Howell -- Despite lots of pressure from delegates, Howell stands firm in opposing an increase in the daily allowance, or per diem, citing the state's budget shortfall.

Del. Steve Shannon (D-Fairfax)- Campaign finance reports show that Shannon, a possible Democratic candidate for attorney general next year, has over $202,000 in the bank. Shannon is also speaking more often on the House floor, which may help raise his profile in preparation for a statewide campaign.

Del. Lionel Spruill Sr. (D-Chesapeake) -- Spruill earns headlines nationwide over his bill to make it illegal to hang rubber testicles from a vehicle hitch.

Republicans and Democrats in the House have been bickering since the legislative session started last week.

First, there was the flare up about changes to the rules, then committee assignments and yesterday, it was the question of whether raising per diems would be used later in campaign attack ads.

Today, Del. Timothy D. Hugo (R-Fairfax) brought the per diem issue back for a second day in a row by accusing Democrats of trying to smear GOP candidates in last year's legislative elections.

Sen. Janet D. Howell (D-Fairfax) is set to become the first woman from the State Senate to become a budget conferee.

The conferees are the handful of lawmakers who duke it out at the end of each session to finish the budget. On Wednesday, Sen. Charles J. Colgan (D-Prince William), chairman of the finance committee, and Del. William J. Howell (R-Stafford), speaker of the House of Delegates, took the unusual step of announcing the conferees, whose names typically are unveiled toward the end of the session.

The House, too, has a woman conferee, Beverly J. Sherwood (R-Frederick). But she won't be the first from that chamber. That was Dorothy McDiarmid (D-Arlington), who served in 1984.

Two different tobacco companies donated a combined $30,000 to House and Senate Democratic committees in recent days as both chambers prepare to consider Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's proposal to ban smoking in bars and restaurants.

Reynolds American, parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, donated $10,000 to The Commonwealth Victory Fund last week, according to the State Board of Elections. The fund is a joint fundraising committee for House and Senate Democrats. R.J. Reynolds, the second biggest largest tobacco company in the United States, manufactures Camel, Kool, Winston and Salem cigarettes.

On Jan. 2, Altria Corporate Services also made two separate $10,000 donations to the Senate Democratic Caucus. Altria is a parent company of Philip Morris International, a Richmond-based tobacco company that produces Marlboro cigarettes.

Chaos reigned at today's meeting of the Senate Courts of Justice committee, which took the state legislature's first crack at killing the unpopular abusive-driver fees.

The panel struggled to combine 10 bills that essentially did the same thing-- repeal the fees. Senators argued along party lines over two issues: should the thousands of motorists who have already been assessed the fees get their money back, and should the committee attach an "emergency clause" to the bill so it takes effect as soon as the governor signs it?

Earlier today, we told you how much money Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell (R) has in the bank as he considers a run for governor in 2009. Some of his potential rivals have as much or more money than he does.

Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling's political action committee, Building a Better Virginia, had $418,000 cash on hand at the end of the year.

On the Democratic side, Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria), had about $600,000 in his two accounts for Friends of Brian Moran and Leadership for Virginia's Future. Meanwhile, Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) has almost $300,000 in his three accounts.

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) has endorsed a bill by Del. L. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Prince William) that would allow Virginia voters to register with a political party.

Bolling sent a letter to lawmakers today that says party registration would "maintain the integrity of the party nomination process in Virginia" and allow candidates "to more effectively identify voters and efficiently communicate with them."

At the start of each legislative session, House and Senate members receive their vanity license plates that identifies them as a member of the legislature. The license plate includes a number based on their seniority.

This year, Del. Kenneth R. Plum (D-Fairfax) had a surprise when he got his plate because it identified him as the speaker of the House.

Earlier today, Plum spoke about the error on the House floor.

"Mr. Speaker, this is a prediction of things to come," Plum told House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), referring to Democrats efforts to win back control in the 2009 elections.

Howell responded, "You need to save that, maybe it will be a collector's item some day."

House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) raised some eyebrows when he released long-awaited committee assignments to delegates last night.

The two highest ranking Democrats in the Republican-controlled House were removed from two of the three committees they had each spent a dozen years or more on.

Del. Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry), House minority leader, was left on Courts of Justice and taken off General Laws and Counties, Cities and Towns. Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria), House Democratic caucus chairman, was left on Courts of Justice but taken off Transportation and Health, Welfare and Institutions.

Democrats in the state Senate have successfully pushed through a rules change that tightens restrictions on senators who try to raise money during the legislative session.

For years, state law has prohibited delegates and senators from raising money for their campaigns during the legislative session. But two years ago, Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax) solicited funds for an anti-abortion organization that was gearing up to support legislation before the General Assembly.

Some senators, including Republicans, condemned Cuccinelli, saying he was violating the spirit of the law. Cuccinelli, who argued he did nothing wrong because he wasn't raising money for himself, successfully argued he was on solid legal ground.

But now the Democrats set the rules in the Senate.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) said tonight he wants Virginia to expand access to absentee ballots and create a new system for drawing legislative boundaries.

In his third State of the Commonwealth address, Kaine said a non-partisan redistricting process would allow districts to be drawn "with people, not the politicians, first in mind."

Kaine's proposal comes as Democrats took control of the Senate today, which will assure their party has a seat at the table during the next round of congressional and legislative redistricting in 2011.

"With different parties in the majority in each house, now is the perfect time to make this necessary change," Kaine said.

RICHMOND - Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) tonight delivered the State of the Commonwealth address to the Joint Assembly in Richmond. The text of his speech follows:
"Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Members of the General Assembly, my fellow Virginians:

It is with great pride in our shared history that we return tonight to our historic Capitol. This Capitol is entering its 220th year of service, as home to the oldest continuous legislature in the New World.

Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell (R) unveiled his legislative priorities Tuesday, a day before the state's lawmakers get to work for this year's 60-day session in Richmond.

It came the same day former governor and U.S. senator George Allen announced he will not run for governor in 2009. Allen's announcement clears the field a bit for McDonnell, who could face Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling for the Republican nomination.

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) sent a letter today to Republicans in the General Assembly today outlining his support for a repeal of the abusive driver fees and encouraging them to support a repeal as well.

Bolling, a potential GOP candidate for governor in 2009, said he and many Republicans initially thought the fees would be a legitimate way to raise money for transportation and make Virginia's highways safer. But, he said, the legislation inadvertently applied the unpopular fees to less serious offenses and will generate less money than expected.

" While this was the most noble of efforts, it simply has not worked out the way it was intended, and it has become terribly unpopular in the public eye,'' Bolling wrote. "That is why I favor the total repeal of the abusive driver fees, as opposed to their modification."

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) will spend New Year's Day in Iowa with presidential hopeful, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, just days before the state's caucuses.

The two will participate in three campaign events in Des Moines, Sioux City and Council Bluffs.

Kaine traveled to South Carolina the weekend before Christmas to campaign for Obama but was not able to go to Iowa as he had planned because of a snow storm. Kaine, one of Obama's national co-chairmen, spent a weekend in Iowa in November.

Democrat Albert C. Pollard Jr. announced today that he will run in the Feb. 19 special election to fill his old House seat.

"I have always enjoyed public service and we are in a better financial position to serve than when I stepped down,'' he said in a statement. "For these reasons and because of the outpouring of encouragement to run, I am declaring my candidacy."

Pollard represented the district for three terms until he left in 2005. The recent vacancy was created when Rob Wittman left to run for Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Thomas K. Norment Jr. (R-James City) said today he no longer supports keeping the $1 per vehicle surcharge on annual vehicle registrations.

The fee was established in 2003 to raise money to pay for the Jamestown 400th commemoration. Earlier this month, Norment said he wanted Virginia to keep the fee to help pay for tourism promotions, even though the Jamestown celebrations are over.

After state Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis lost her election and after U.S. Rep. Tom Davis decided against running for U.S. Senate, the couple took three much-needed vacations.

The most recent one was a trip to New York City, where they visited with New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Incoming Sen. Ralph Northam (D) may want to think of an extra special Father's Day gift next year.

Westcott B. Northam, a retired federal judge from Virginia's Eastern Shore, donated $243,500 to his son's campaign this year, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

Westcott Northam's is responsible for almost a fifth of the $1.1 million his son raised to defeat Sen. Nick Rerras (R-Norfolk).

Westcott Northam contributions to his son make him the third most generous individual donor during this election cycle, according to VPAP.

Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), announced yesterday that the House will provide Republicans and Democrats proportional representation on each of the body's permanent committees for the 2008 legislative session.

He and other Republican leaders called on the new Democratic majoriy to adhere to the same principle in the Senate.

"House Republicans - both current and past - have been leaders in adhering to the key principles of representative democracy," Howell said.

The decision means that most standing committees, consisting of 22 members, will have 13 Republican delegates and 9 Democratic delegates.

"I have always felt that this is the appropriate way to carry out representative government," said H. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), the House majority leader.

Winners

Legislative Black Caucus - Senate leaders announced this week that four out of five African-American senators will chair a committee when the General Assembly convenes in January, a stunning ascendancy in power in a state that has historically be run by white men.

Doug Denneny - A Democratic House candidate in the 11th congressional district, Denneny was endorsed this week by U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa), a rising star within the Democratic party. Denneny and Murphy are both veterans of the war an Iraq, which they oppose.

As first reported (I think) by Republican blogger Shaun Kenney, Sen. Linda T. "Toddy" Puller (D-Fairfax) has introduced legislation to increase the state's gasoline tax by 5 percent.

Puller's proposal to raise the 17.5 cent a gallon gas tax, which hasn't been raised since 1986, comes amid growing calls to eliminate the controversial fees on bad drivers.

Yesterday, incoming Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) refused to rule out a gas tax increase as a substitute for the abuser fees, which were designed to raise $65 million annually for transportation.

Earlier today, Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) announced he will introduce legislation to repeal the abuser fees. Yesterday, the Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission released a report that questions whether the fees were good public policy.

House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) announced that he has picked Del. Lacey E. Putney of Bedford to lead the Appropriations Committee.

The move was a bit controversial because Putney switched from Democrat to independent almost four decades ago. But Putney is a member of the House Republican caucus and the current vice chairman of the committee.

Former Del. Albert C. Pollard Jr., who narrowly lost his Senate bid this year, said today he will likely run for his old state House seat if Del. Robert J. Wittman (R-Westmoreland) is elected to Congress next week.

Pollard said "everybody from former Republican Governor Linwood Holton to the local UPS men" have been urging him to run for the House seat he gave up in 2005.

"I enjoy the public service, I am a much better position financially then I was two years ago and if the seat opens, I will almost certainly run," Pollard said.

Here is a list of the Senate Democratic leaders, who will take outright control of the chamber in January.

Majority Leader - Richard L. Saslaw (Fairfax)
Deputy Floor Leader - William Roscoe Reynolds (Franklin)
Caucus Chairman - Mary Margaret Whipple (Arlington)
Caucus Vice- Chairman -Phillip P. Puckett (Russell)
Floor Whips - Janet D. Howell (Fairfax) & John S. Edwards (Roanoke)
Caucus Secretary- Yvonne B. Miller (Norfolk)
Caucus Treasurer- Henry L. Marsh III (Richmond)

The state legislative elections are over, and Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) is barred by law from seeking a second consecutive term in 2009, but that isn't stopping him from raising money.

Even though Kaine raised and spent millions of dollars this fall to help Democrats retake control of the state Senate, the governor's political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward, has collected $30,000 from three donors since the Nov. 6 election.

On Nov. 8, Kaine received a $10,000 donation from Fred Eychaner, a Chicago businessman and gay rights activist who has given millions to Democratic causes over the years. Last week, the Communications Workers of America also donated $10,000 to Moving Virginia Forward. And Christopher Little, a retired business executive from McDowell, Va., gave Moving Virginia Forward $10,000 Monday, according to the State Board of Elections.

Sen. William C. Wampler Jr. (R-Bristol) was clearly disappointed when the Republicans lost the Senate to Democrats a few weeks ago. Wampler, a moderate who was part of the leadership team, was slated to chair the powerful Senate Finance Committee.

Instead, the Republicans lost control, and now Wampler, who runs an insurance agency, is angling for a seat on the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

Virginia election officials today officially certified Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax) as the winner in the race to represent the 37th District of Fairfax County.

His Democratic opponent, Janet S. Oleszek, plans to file a lawsuit in Fairfax County Circuit Court tomorrow asking for a recount of the more than 37,000 votes cast in the Nov. 6 election. She has 10 days to file the lawsuit.

Senate Republicans, still reeling from their loss earlier this month, chose new senators to lead their caucus starting
in January.

Some of the more conservative members, including Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax) and Stephen D. Newman (R-Lynchburg), wanted to replace Stosch and the other moderate Republican leaders after the loss of four seats Nov. 6.

Sen. Sen. Walter A. Stosch doesn't seem too worried about the coup being plotted against him in the Senate.

Stosch (R-Henrico) lost his title as Senate majority leader when the Democrats took control of the chamber in the Nov. 6 election. But he still wants to be Senate minority leader.

In a posting earlier today, we published a letter that conservative activist Joseph Blackburn wrote to Del. John M. O'Bannon III (R-Henrico) about a potential challenge to House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford).

O'Bannon responded this afternoon. Some Republicans say this is the first skirmish of a potential GOP primary contest between O'Bannon and Blackburn in 2009. You can read O'Bannon's reponse to Blackburn's letter below.

Earlier today, I conducted a 20-minute interview with New York Public Radio about Virginia politics.

Amy Eddings, a guest host for the "The Leonard Lopate Show" on WYNC, wanted to know if Virginia really is turning blue? We discussed last week's state legislative elections and next year's presidential and U.S. Senate contests. I also took questions about the state's shifting demographics, illegal immigration and the role of military voters in state politics.

You can find an audio clip of the interview here.

Joseph Blackburn, a conservative who narrowly lost his challenge to Sen. Walter A. Stosch (R-Henrico) in this year's Republican primary, has stepped into the debate over whether House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) should replaced.

On Sunday, the House Republican caucus will meet to decide Howell's fate. Several conservative Republicans, including Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William), are trying to unseat Howell because they blame him for straying from his party's core conservative principles, which they say cost the GOP support in recent elections.

Blackburn, whose been mentioned a possible candidate for House in 2009, has sent a letter to Del. John M. O'Bannon III (R-Henrico) calling on him to join the effort to unseat Howell.

You can read Blackburn's letter below.

Del. Brian Moran, chairman of the House Democratic caucus, reports that he raised or gave a record-breaking $1million on candidates in this year's legislative elections.

Moran (D-Alexandria), donated almost every penny that he collected in the account of his political action committee, Leadership for Virginia's Future. But he has raised some eyebrows in Richmond for holding onto another $500,000 donated to a second PAC, Friends of Brian Moran.

Moran may plan to keep the money for a future campaign. He hasn't made a secret about his interest in possibly running for governor in 2009.

RICHMOND- Here are the answers to the election questions asked in the Oct. 25 Virginia Notebook after Democrats won the four seats needed to reclaim control of the state Senate and also make inroads in the House of Delegates.

Q Can a Republican still win inside the Beltway?

A Maybe. With Democrat Margaret G. Vanderhye's victory over Republican David M. Hunt for the seat of retiring Del. Vincent F. Callahan Jr. (R-Fairfax), there will be no elected Republican state official next year representing an inside-the-Beltway district. Hunt lost by just 540 votes, however. In Alexandria, Del. David L. Englin (D) beat Republican challenger Mark S. Allen by nearly 2 to 1. Even so, I wouldn't write off a Republican candidate's chance to someday prevail in Arlington, Alexandria or Fairfax.

House Republicans could be in for a contentious meeting Sunday when they decide if Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) should stay in his job.

Most observers expect Howell, who became speaker in 2002, will win reelection as speaker, even though Republicans have lost a net of 11 House seats since he took over, including four in last week's elections.

But at least one delegate, Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William), said today he plans to force a debate Sunday on whether Howell should be replaced. Marshall blames Howell for costing the GOP House seats because House leaders pushed for last year's transportation package, which included controversial fees on bad drivers and new taxes in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.

Corey A. Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, said today he won't be a candidate for Congress next year.

Stewart, a Republican who was reelected last week with 55 percent of the vote, has been widely mentioned as a possible U.S. House candidate in the 11th District if Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Fairfax) decides not to seek reelection.

But Stewart said in an interview he has "never liked legislatures" and prefers being board chairman.

"The thought of being one of 435 people isn't appealing," Stewart said today. "Congress isn't all it's cracked up to be. You've got to run every two years, you are constantly campaigning."

With the 2007 election over, some Democrats are already thinking ahead to 2009. And one Republican delegate who ran unopposed this year, David B. Albo of Fairfax County, is expected to be a top Democratic target.

Democratic sources say Greg Werkheiser, who narrowly lost to Albo in 2005, is thinking about making the race. In an interview today, Werkheiser said he will be "watching to see if there is any change in the way Mr. Albo has been representing the district."

The 42nd District includes Springfield and southern Fairfax County, where Democrat George Barker did well in his victory Tuesday over Sen. James K. "Jay" O'Brien (R-Fairfax).

Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) issued a statement tonight about the Democrats' success in retaking the state Senate and picking up four seats in the House. In the statement, Warner said Virginia Republicans paid a price for moving too far to the right in recent years. You can read the full statement below.

Several Republican incumbents in the House defeated Democratic challengers or third-party candidates. Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax) faced neither but he still only garnered almost 88 percent of the vote.

An extraordinary number - more than 12 percent - of the vote in 42nd District in Fairfax County for write-in candidates. In one precinct it was higher than 37 percent.

Albo said a handful of anti-Republican activists who run the albomustgo Web site stood outside three precincts - Lorton, Lorton Station and Laurel Hill - to convince voters to write in other candidates' names. That doesn't explain the high numbers, one more than 10 percent, in some of the other precincts.

"It's an 8th grade campaign,'' Albo said. "They hate Republicans."

While most Republican and Democratic leaders in Virginia will be sweating the results of tomorrow's crucial election, GOP state party chairman John H. Hager will be partying at the White House with President Bush.

Hager, a former Bush administration official and future father-in-law of the president's daughter, will be a guest at a dinner honoring French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

When Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va) announced in September he was retiring at the end of his term, some Virginia Republicans were hoping he would send some of his campaign cash to GOP candidates for the state House and Senate.

According to the Federal Election Commission, John Warner's campaign committee reported having $724,000 in the bank as of Sept. 30. But Warner hasn't donated any of his money to Virginia Republicans this year, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, which tracks money in state politics.

Earlier this week, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and other prominent Virginia Democrats kicked off a week-long tour of the state to energize voters to go to the polls Tuesday. Virginia Republicans countered by saying they, too, were having their own bus tour around the state.

Each day this week, the Republican Party of Virginia has said it would send out information on the tour, scheduled to start Friday. But as of Friday morning, we have not heard a word.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will make a stop in Northern Virginia tomorrow to endorse state Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-Fairfax) in her tight race against Democrat Chapman "Chap" Petersen in the 34th District.

We're told Bloomberg, an independent who at one time was rumored to be interested in running for president in 2008, will mentioned Davis' "independence and courage" and her support of legislation to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

Virginia Democrats are hoping to pick up at least four seats in the state Senate but word is they are worried about losing one of their own: Sen. Charles J. Colgan of Prince William.

To underscore how vulnerable they think Colgan may be when voters go to the polls next Tuesday both of the state Democratic party's superstars will be appearing with him this week.

On Friday, Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) sent his political action committee's five staffers to volunteer for targeted Senate races as part of a get-out-the-vote effort a week before the Nov. 6 election.

Deeds, a possible candidate for governor in 2009, has contributed or raised almost $250,000 to campaigns this year.

Citizens for the Commonwealth, a new political action committee hoping to help Republicans keep control of the Senate, gave $60,000 to Sen. James K. "Jay" O'Brien Jr., who is in a tight race for re-election in the 39th district, which includes parts of Fairfax and Prince Williams counties.

As of Sept. 30, O'Brien, had $92,000 in the bank while Democrat George L. Barker had $173,000.

Richard Sharp, the former chairman of Circuit City and co-founder of CarMax, has created Citizens for the Commonwealth, with initial contributions of $275,000 and the expectation of raising more. Three businessmen, including Dwight C. Schar, chairman of home builder NVR in Reston, each contributed $25,000 to the organization.

Sen. Henry L. Marsh III (D-Richmond) will be honored for his 41 years of service in public office tonight at what looks to be a very swanky reception at the Richmond Marriott.

Special guests include Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, former Gov. Mark R. Warner and U.S. Rep. Robert Scott. There will be a jazz ensemble, heavy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.

Marsh faces an independent in next month's election and with it being just a few weeks before the big day, they have turned this event into a fundraiser. $500 to $1,000 buys you a ticket.

Jerry Parker, chairman of the Virginia Conservative Action political action committee, which has tried to rid the General Assembly of moderate Republicans in the past, has uncharacteristically donated money to two Democrats this year.

Parker gave $1,000 to J. Chapman Petersen, running against Republican Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, and $5,000 to Albert Pollard, running against Republican Richard H. Stuart, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

Is this part of a new strategy?

Parker did give $138,000 to the PAC and a handful of Republican candidates including Bob FitzSimmonds, running against Sen. Charles J. Colgan (D-Prince William)

A new poll shows former governor Mark R. Warner (D) with a nearly 2 to 1 lead in next year's U.S. Senate race over either one of his potential GOP challengers.

The poll by Christopher Newport University shows Warner beating either former governor James P. Gilmore III or Rep. Thomas M. Davis III by a margin of 24 points. If the election were held today, 51 percent of voters would support Warner while 27 percent said they would favor either Gilmore or Davis.

The Christopher Newport University survey also found that voters have a negative view of the Republican-controlled General Assembly, but they support Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine.

Randal J. Kirk, a Radford businessman, has become Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's (D) half-million dollar man.

On Oct. 4, Kirk donated $250,000 to Kaine's political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward, that is trying to elect more Democrats to the General Assembly. Over the past two years, Kirk has contributed a total of $450,000 to the PAC, according to the State Board of Elections.

In 2005, Kirk also donated $100,000 to Kaine's campaign for governor. He gave another $100,000 to Kaine that year through one of his holding companies, according to the Roanoke Times.

Kirk is Senior Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Third Security, LLC, an investment management firm he founded in 1999. In July, Kaine reappointed Kirk to Radford University's governing board.

Jon Cohen, the Washington Post polling director, and polling analyst Jennifer Agiesta, conducted an online chat today on the paper's recent Virginia poll. The poll found that Democrat Mark R. Warner has a big lead in next year's U.S. Senate race. The paper also reported that a majority of voters want the Democrats to take control of the General Assembly.

You can find Jon and Jennifer's chat here.

For the second week in a row, House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith accused the Kaine administration of trying to scare voters into believing the state's finances are worse than they are.

Griffith (R-Salem) called the administration's lack of information "inappropriate" and "improper" and said it's not the way things should be done in Virginia.

Earlier on Monday, Republican members of the House Appropriations Committee berated the state's secretary of finance and budget director for failing to provide other alternatives to the state's $640-million shortfall besides crucial cuts to services or dipping into the state's rainy day fund.

There is another poll out that shows the public doesn't think the recently approved transportation package will do enough to solve the state's traffic woes.

On Sunday, the Washington Post published a poll that showed voters by a 2 to 1 margin don't think the transportation funding package supported by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D)_ and GOP leaders, designed to raise $1 billion annually, does enough.

The findings in The Post poll are confirmed in a survey released today by Christopher Newport University. That poll found just 18 percent of voters think the transportation deal, which relies on regional taxing districts in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, goes far enough in solving the problem.

It looks like Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling is getting ready to do some serious campaigning. No, not for himself. He's hitting the road to help Republicans running for local and legislative offices in Nov. 6 election.

Just check out his schedule next week:

According to Washington Post reporter Nick Miroff, Republicans are still divided over those controversial fees on bad drivers.

Top GOP leaders, including Attorney General Robert F. McDonell (R) and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, went on a statewide tour Monday in hopes of boosting the fortunes of Republicans running in the Nov. 6 election. At a stop at Manassas Regional Airport, House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) took credit for the fees and said they are making roads safer.

But as soon GOP leaders ended their speeches and headed back to the tarmac for their next flight, the local Republican candidates who stayed behind rushed up to reporters to distance themselves from Howell's support of the fees, which can reach $3,000.

At a sparsely-attended press conference in Richmond today, House Democratic leaders called on Republicans to agree to preserve money for public education.

"We have seen an erosion of support by Republican leaders for public schools,'' said Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria), who leads the Democratic caucus in the House.

House Democrats unveiled a plan Friday to expand services for seniors though in-home and long-term care programs as party leaders continue their tour of the state to convince voters to elect Democrats to the General Assembly in November.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine is considering asking lawmakers to dip into the state's "rainy day" fund to make up for a $640 million budget shortfall.

But some Republican senators - and one in particular - has a message for the Democratic governor: No way.

Sen. William C. Wampler Jr. (R-Bristol), who is in line to become chairman of the Senate Finance Committee if the Republicans retain control of the Senate in November, told reporters Thursday that "now is not the time" to tap the state's savings account. (In its 17-year history, state officials have only had to raid it once.)

Instead, some senators want Kaine to consider cutting some of his priorities.

Stay tuned. The fight over the budget will likely become a major issue in the General Assembly session that starts in January.

Virginia House Majority Whip M. Kirkland Cox (R-Colonial Heights) was struck by a car this morning near the State Capitol, but escaped serious injury.

Cox was trying get to a budget presentation by Virginia finance secretary Jody Wagner when he was hit. Midway through Wagner's talk to the House Appropriations Committee, Chairman Vincent F. Callahan Jr. (R-Fairfax) interrupted Wagner to tell the audience that an ambulance was responding to the Capitol grounds to treat Cox.

But 15 minutes later, Cox walked into the committee room and took his seat.