Jody W. Wagner, secretary of finance, may not have officially resigned to run for lieutenant governor yet but several people close to Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) say he has already picked her replacement.

Richard D. Brown, director of the Department of Planning and Budget, is expected to be named finance secretary after Wagner resigns next week to launch a bid for lieutenant governor in 2009.

Wagner said last week that she plans to consider her options while on vacation this week. But several people in the Kaine administration say she has already told the governor that she will resign.

The Virginia Democratic Party continues to have a crushing advantage over the Virginia Republican Party when it comes to money that can be spent on the presidential, U.S. Senate and congressional races this year.

In campaign finance reports filed this week with the Federal Election Commission, the state Democratic Party had about $729,000 in its federal account, about $120,000 less than it had a month ago.

The Republican Party of Virginia reported it has $101,000 in its federal account. But over the past month, the party has generated $91,000 in unpaid debt, according to its July FEC report.

It's a little early, but former U.S. Marine and retired Secret Service veteran Mike Hodge, has filed for the House of Delegates 52nd District. The seat isn't up until 2009.

Hodge, a Democrat, apparently wants to stake his claim on the seat while the plans of Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (R-Prince William) are still up in the air. Frederick, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, initially vowed not to seek re-election next year if he was elected chair. But last month he said he may reconsider that pledge.

Hodge, who lives in Montclair, is touting his military and law enforcement background. He oversees the corporate security department at Washington Gas.

Jody W. Wagner, secretary of finance for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), is expected to resign in the coming weeks and launch a bid for lieutenant governor in 2009.

Wagner said today that she plans to consider her options while on vacation next week. But Democrats who are close to Kaine's administration said Wagner plans to resign by the end of the month after returning from vacation.

"I'm trying to figure out what to do,'' she said.

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) plans to run for re-election. Wagner will face fellow Democrat Jon Bowerbank, a businessman and member of the Russell County Board of Supervisors, who is already running.

In an interview today, Del. Lionell Spruill Sr. (D-Chesapeake) defended his $7,500 a month salary from Del. Brian J. Moran's (D-Alexandria) campaign for governor.

Moran is paying Spruill, a prominent African-American who is vice-chairman of the House Democratic caucus, to be an "outreach consultant." Moran, the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, is running against Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) in next year's Democratic primary for governor.

"I am working for Brian. I have contacts all over the state," said Spruill, who has developed a reputation for being able to help drive up black turnout in Hampton Roads. "I am working different meetings, several groups, churches and organizations all over the state. I have contacts all over the state."

A campaign staffer for Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, a Democratic candidate for governor, is accusing Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) of turning in misleading information about his own gubernatorial campaign's fundraising numbers.

The charge by Peter Jackson, a Deed's spokesman, comes amid growing acrimony between the two candidates for the Democratic nomination in next year's governor's race.

On Tuesday, Moran released campaign finance reports that showed he had $924,000 in the bank, although a week earlier he put out a press release stating he expected to have only $800,000 on hand. Deeds, who lives in Bath County, reported he had $650,000 in the bank. But a closer examination of Moran's finance report reveals he essentially stopped spending money in June, the last month of the reporting period.

In April, Moran spent $113,000 on staff and other expenses. In May, he spent about $119,000. In June, Moran spent just $4,000, mainly because he didn't pay his staff.

Today is the deadline for both state and federal campaign finance reports. As the tallies for elected officials, parties and campaign committees are released, we will post them here.

Former governor James S. Gilmore III, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, raised $250,000 between May 21 and June 31. Gilmore has about $117,000 in the bank. Since he launched his campaign last fall, Gilmore has raised about $1.2 million.

Former governor Mark R. Warner, a Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate, reports raising $2.9 million from April 1 to June 30. Warner has about $5.1 million in the bank. Warner has raised $9.3 million since he got into the race in September.

Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, the likely Republican nominee for governor in 2009, will report he raised $878,000 so far this year. McDonnell has about $1.2 million in the bank.

Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria), who seeking the Democratic nomination for governor next year, says he raised about $1.4 million during the first six months of the year, although some of the money had been transferred from an old political account. Moran has $924,000 in the bank.

Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath), a Democratic candidate for governor next year, reports he raised $783,000 so far this year. Deeds has $650,000 on hand.

A nasty battle has developed between Del. Brian J. Moran's (D-Alexandria) staff and Fairfax County police officers and sheriff's deputies over their role in next year's governors race.

Last month, the Fairfax Coalition of Police and the Fairfax Deputy Sheriff's Coalition -- both affiliated with AFL-CIO and the International Union of Police Associations (I.U.P.A.) - endorsed Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) instead of Moran in the race for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Jesse F. Ferguson, Moran's communications director, responded by writing a terse letter to the two organizations on July 1 questioning the "legitimacy of" their endorsement.

"We believe that endorsements conducted in secret, without transparency, notification or commonly followed procedures should be considered suspect at best," Ferguson wrote on Moran for Governor letterhead. "We strongly question the legitimacy of this decision."

The General Assembly's debate over transportation this week set up a rare, clear division between the two Democratic candidates for governor next year.

Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) voted in favor of a plan by Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) to raise the state's gas tax by six cents over six years, which would cost the average family about $45 a year. Deed's likely opponent in next year's Democratic primary, Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria), voted to strip the gas tax from Saslaw's bill when it got to the House floor.

The two campaigns are now throwing verbal jabs at the other over the issue.

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.

Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) will announce today he's raised about $1.4 million so far this year for his campaign for governor, which his staff is touting as a record haul for a gubernatorial candidate making their first bid for statewide office.

According to a statement Moran plans to release today, Virginians for Brian Moran will report it has $800,000 in the bank. Moran is expected to face off against Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) next spring for the Democratic nomination.

Although the primary is almost a year away, Moran has been accelerating his campaign efforts in recent weeks, including building staff and traveling the state.

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.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) now has another $100,000 donor to his political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward.

John O. Wynne, retired president and chief executive officer of Landmark Communications, which owns The Weather Channel and several newspapers, including the Virginian Pilot and Roanoke Times, gave Moving Virginia Forward $25,000 on June 20. Since Kaine took office in 2006, Wynne has contributed $125,000 to Moving Virginia Forward.

There are now six individuals or organizations that have contributed at least $100,000 to Kaine's political committee, which he uses to try to bolster the Virginia Democratic Party, including the governor's successful efforts last year in winning control of the state Senate, according to the Virginia Board of Elections and the Virginia Public Access Project.

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.

Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (Prince William), the chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, announced today that Allison Coccia will be the new executive director of the party.

Coccia is the former executive director of the New York Republican State Committee and has also been the political director of Republican Party of Pennsylvania. In both jobs, her task was complicated by an electorate that had soured on the GOP brand.

"After a thorough search that entailed interviewing several outstanding candidates, I concluded that Allison offers us a proven record at improving fundraising, communications, and building the grassroots," Frederick said.

Former U.S. Senator and Law & Order alum Fred Thompson headlined a fundraiser for Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell last night in Virginia Beach.

The fundraiser for the likely Republican gubernatorial nominee in 2009 and former co-chairman of Thompson's presidential campaign in Virginia raised more than $300,000. About 325 supporters attended.

"As a father, veteran, prosecutor and attorney general, Bob McDonnell has the experience, the values and the vision that Virginia needs,'' Thompson said. "I've been around politics a long time, and I believe that Bob McDonnell is the kind of leader we need. As a Virginia resident, I look forward to supporting Bob for Governor by voting for him next November."

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."

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.

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.

Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II (R-Fairfax), a candidate for attorney general next year, said today he expects to have between $80,000 and $100,000 in his campaign account by the end of the month.

State candidates have to file campaign finance reports for the first half of the year with the State Board of Elections by July 15. Cuccinelli said his fundraising has been a success, considering he doesn't plan to fully ramp up his campaign until after the presidential and U.S. Senate races conclude in November.

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.

Usually the only people who host parties at Virginia state conventions are those running for statewide office.

So when Aneesh P. Chopra, secretary of technology for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, passed out colorful invitations to his party after the state Democratic convention concludes tonight activists started talking. Many Democrats, including potential rival Jon Bowerbank, expect Chopra to jump into the lieutenant govenor's race next year.

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.

Here are the answers to the election questions asked in last week's Virginia Notebook.

On Friday and Saturday, Republicans gathered at a Richmond convention center to select their nominee to fill the seat of retiring Sen. John W. Warner (R). They also elected a party chairman and delegates to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney will be in Virginia Thursday to help Lt. Gov Bill Bolling ( R) raise money for his 2009 reelection bid.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and potential GOP vice-presidential candidate, will appear with Bolling at a fundraiser Thursday afternoon at The Ritz Carlton in Arlington. Romney and Bolling will then travel to Richmond for a "Burgers with Bill" barbecue. The two are also planning several joint media appearances.

Last year, Bolling endorsed Romney's presidential bid and later served as the co-chairman of his Virginia campaign. Romney dropped out of the presidential race a few days before Virginia's primary on Feb. 12. Bolling is expected to run unopposed the Republican nomination next year but will have to try to fend off a challenger in the general election, although a Democratic candidate with high name recognition has yet to emerge.

Virginia Republicans are gearing up to challenge Del. C. Charles Caputo (D) next year, saying his Fairfax County district represents one of their best pickup opportunities in Northern Virginia.

Jim LeMunyon, a Chantilly businessman, was making the rounds at the state GOP convention touting his plans to run against Caputo. LeMunyon, who served as Assistant Commerce Secretary under former President Bush in the early 1990s, was passing out pamphlets noting that Caputo won his 2007 race against Republican Marc Cadin by just 6 percentage points.

He also noted that U.S. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va) won Caputo's 67th House District in 2006, and former senator George Allen received about 46 percent of the vote that year, despite his poor showing in the rest of Fairfax County.

Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick's election today as the new chairman of Virginia Republican Party will likely lead to some big changes at GOP headquarters, including possibly a new executive director, according to party officials.

Under former lieutenant governor John H. Hager, who Frederick unseated today in the chairman's race, Charles E. Judd served as executive director.

"You will probably be hearing some news about that next week," said Frederick, who lives in Prince William County. "I ran to make changes, so we will be making some changes." He declined further comment.

It's unclear how national Republicans in Washington will react to Frederick's efforts to shake up the party in the middle of a presidential race.

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.

Almost 500 Republicans from across the state gathered in downtown Richmond tonight to hear Vice President Dick Cheney speak at the party's annual fundraiser. Cheney, who plans to build a house in McLean after he leaves office in January, encouraged those in the audience to vote for Republicans in November, including Sen. John McCain for president in November.

"You and I belong to the party of limited taxes, limited government and free enterprise,'' he said to applause. "We understand that government exists not to be the people's master but rather their servant."

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.

Jon Bowerbank, a businessman and member of the Russell County Board of Supervisors, filed papers with the state Board of Election to run for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 2009.

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) plans to run for re-election.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) has raised more than $370,000 from 15 contributors since mid March, a clear sign he plans to remain active in the political process even though he cannot seek reelection.

Kaine's fundraising for his political action committee, Moving Virginia Forward, includes a $100,000 donation on April 10 from Radford billionaire R.J. Kirk. Since Kaine took office in 2006, Kirk has donated $550,000 to Kaine's political committee, according to the State Board of Elections.

Kaine has received another $35,000 in donations since mid April from Shelia Johnston, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television. Johnston has contributed a total of $185,000 to Kaine since 2006.

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. Jeffrey M. Frederick (R-Prince William) sent a letter to supporters this week saying he won't seek reelection to his House seat in 2009 if he is elected chairman of the Virginia Republican Party at next week's GOP convention.

Frederick, who is challenging John H. Hager for the chairman's job, said he made his decision 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.

"With the loss of 9 seats in the General Assembly in just the last 6 months alone, and RPV finishing 5th in fundraising to four Democratic committees last year, the risk is too great for me to not make the tough decision to eliminate any objections to my candidacy for Party chair," Frederick said in a letter to GOP activists. "The future of our Party, and indeed our Commonwealth, is at stake."

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.

Democrat Janet Oleszek, who lost to Sen. Ken Cuccinelli by 101 votes in last year's election, says she's ready for a rematch in 2011.

At the Fairfax County Democratic Committee Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner Sunday night, Oleszek said she thinks she will be able to beat Cuccinelli (R-Fairfax) the next time.

Secretary of Finance Jody W. Wagner was making the rounds at the Fairfax County Democratic Committee Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner last night as she considers a bid for statewide office.

Wagner, who is from Virginia Beach, said in an interview she is thinking about running for lieutenant governor next year, although she was quick to point out her main focus continues to be her job in Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's administration.

"I'm thinking about it but right now I am still working very hard for Governor Kaine on transportation and other stuff," said Wagner, adding she will have to step down as finance secretary if she decides to run for lieutenant governor.

John Brownlee, the former top prosecutor for Virginia's western district, is expected to announce tomorrow that he is running for the Republican nomination for attorney general next year.

Brownlee, whose last day on the job was Friday, has scheduled a news conference tomorrow morning in Roanoke.

Brownlee, 43, has been U.S. Attorney since 2001. A graduate of Washington and Lee University and the William and Mary law school, Brownlee previously served as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. In Virginia, Brownlee is best known for efforts to combat illegal drug use, including going after the makers of Oxycotin for alleged deceptive marketing.

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.

Former Virginia House of Delegates member Paul Harris has sent a letter to supporters to tell them he has decided not to run for the Republican nomination for attorney general next year.

"In its simplest terms, the joy of spending time with my three children far outweighs any desire I have to be attorney general," Harris said.

Harris, an Army veteran and former U.S. Deputy Attorney General, served two terms in the House representing Albemarle County, just outside Charlottesville.

In a sign that Virginia Republicans are ready to move beyond their recent internal divisions, 50 elected and party officials announced today they are supporting Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell and Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling in next year's state races.

Last month, Bolling announced he will seek reelection next year, which cleared the way for McDonnell to run for governor. McDonnell, so far the only GOP candidate in the race, said he and Bolling will run as a team, giving the GOP ticket a potential advantage over the Democrats, who may be distracted by a primary battle for governor between Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) and Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath).

In a letter, all eight Republican member of Congress from Virginia, every Republican district chair, the entire General Assembly GOP leadership team and the leadership of the state party said they were endorsing the McDonnell-Bolling ticket.

"A McDonnell-Bolling ticket will unite our Republican party around its core conservative principles," the letter stated. "After two successive Democratic administrations, now is the time for our Republican Party to unite behind this strong, energetic ticket."

House Speaker William J. Howell made it clear yesterday that he is looking to Loudoun County to help Republicans keep control of the House of Delegates in the 2009 elections.

"I know this sounds self-serving, the presidential stuff is important, but next year we've got House of Delegates seats, and there's a couple that are representing Loudoun and parts of Loudoun County that I know we can win back," Howell told a meeting of the Loudoun County Republican Committee.

Politicians from around the state will flock to tiny Wakefield on Wednesday for the 60th annual Shad Planking, a longtime Virginia tradition where politicians come to see and be seen.

Speakers include U.S. Senate candidates, Republicans James S. Gilmore III and Robert G. Marshall, and Democrat Mark R. Warner. It may the only time the three men share a stage before a Republican nominee is picked next month.

Democrat Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, who is running for governor next year, and his potential rival, Del. Brian J. Moran, both sent their staffs to Wakefield today to help Warner's team set up.

Sen. Mark D. Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg) told supporters today that he will not run for attorney general next year.

"My family is the abiding consideration for me in deciding to forego a run at this time. I have two children in high school, and I am very proud of them," he wrote in an email. "I understand the sacrifices my family would have to make in order for me to seek statewide office at this time, and they are too great."

Obenshain wrote in an email that he had been encouraged to run for several months.

Del. Robert B. Bell (R-Charlottesville) said this afternoon that he will not run for state attorney general in 2009. He said his wife is pregnant so the timing is not right for him to launch a statewide campaign.

Bell, elected in 2001, had been gearing up for a run for more than a year. As of Dec. 31, Bell had raised $300,000, giving him an early advantage in the money race.

Former Virginia House of Delegates member Paul Harris announced today that he is considering running for the Republican nomination for attorney general next year.

"I am consulting with Republican Party and conservative leaders around the state,'' Harris said in a statement. "I continue to receive strong encouragement to run for attorney general from prominent Republican leaders, former colleagues from the Justice Department, former constituents from the 58th House District, and from citizens in every region of this great Commonwealth."

State Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-Fairfax), one of Northern Virginia's few conservative elected officials with deep roots in the conservative wing of the Republican Party, announced plans today to run for state attorney general in 2009.

Cuccinelli, 39, is a proven campaigner who narrowly won reelection last fall in western Fairfax County despite the region's increasing tendency to choose Democrats at the polls. He touted his conservative credentials on such issues as illegal immigration, gun rights, the death penalty and abortion as evidence that he can court Republican votes and round out a conservative GOP ticket that will also feature Robert F. McDonnell, the current attorney general, for governor, and Lt. Gov. William T. Bolling, who will seek reelection next year.

"We have the opportunity to have the strongest ticket that Republicans have fielded in years, many years," Cuccinelli said. "And I believe I can round out that ticket, bringing in my history of conservative leadership and a strong grassroots network based here in Northern Virginia."

Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey A. Stewart (R) said today he will not run for lieutenant governor next year now that Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) has announced he will seek reelection.

Bolling said Monday he will support Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell (R) for governor instead of seeking the nomination himself.

"I was surprised. I had no idea it was coming," Stewart (R-At Large) said of Bolling's announcement. "I really want to be lieutenant governor, but this is the strongest ticket. It's the best thing for the party."

Bolling's decision also upset the political futures of Del. Tim Hugo (R-Fairfax) and former state Sen. James K. "Jay" O'Brien (R-Fairfax), who also said they wil