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.

Republican U.S. Senate James S. Gilmore III is preparing for a major campaign push across Virginia, including reaching out to voters in Fairfax County.

On Friday, Gilmore will march in the Dale City Independence Day parade during the morning. Gilmore, a former governor, will then attend the Leadership Institute's "Annual Conservative Fourth of July Soirée" at Bull Run Park in Centreville. The event is billed as a "patriotic annual celebration for all things conservative." Gilmore will wrap up his July 4 politicking by participating in the Clifton Independence Day parade and picnic.

"This is just the beginning," Ana Gamonal, a Gilmore spokeswoman, said of the campaign's efforts in Fairfax County, a county Gilmore won during his 1998 bid for governor but has since been trending Democratic. "By spending one of the busiest days of the campaign in Northern Virginia, this shows our commitment to the region."

Former governor Mark R. Warner (D) has already spent $4.2 million on his bid for the U.S. Senate.

Warner has raised $9.3 million since he got into the race in September, and has $5.1 million left in the bank, according to his latest campaign finance report, which was first reported on by the Associated Press.

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.

Former governor Mark R. Warner and his wife, Lisa Collis, kicked in a lot of cash to get the Virginia Democratic Party's campaign efforts off the ground.

Some of Warner's biggest supporters aided in the effort, donating to a new Virginia Democratic fundraising committee after they gave all they legally can to Warner's Senate campaign.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill) the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, has released his second general election television ad in Virginia.

The 30-second ad will also air in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

"He worked his way through college and Harvard Law, turned down big money offers, and helped lift neighborhoods stung by job loss," the ad states. "Fought for workers' rights. He passed a law to move people from welfare to work, slashed the rolls by eighty percent. Passed tax cuts for workers; health care for kids. As president, he'll end tax breaks for companies that export jobs, reward those that create jobs in America. And never forget the dignity that comes from work."

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is launching radio ads this week against U.S. Reps. Thelma D. Drake and Virgil Goode, both Republicans who represent Virginia districts that could be up for grabs in the fall.

In the 60 second ad, an impersonator of President Bush accuses Drake or Goode of siding with "Big Oil."

The ad that will run in Virginia Beach, which Drake represents, begins when the Bush impersonator gets an answering machine message at Drake's office.

"Drakey, W here," the impersonator states. "Wanted to thank you for continuing to support the Big Oil Energy agenda. 'Preciate you voting to keep giving billions in tax breaks to big oil companies. Sure, gasoline is over four bucks a gallon and the oil companies are making record profits, but what's good for Big Oil is good for America, right? I guess that's why they call us the Grand Oil Party. Heh, heh, heh."

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) announced today he is relocating additional staffers to Virginia.

Stacey Brayboy, who managed Obama's Virginia effort in the days leading up to his 30-point victory in the Feb. 12 primary, will become the deputy director of his state general election campaign. Kevin Griffis will be the communications director.

Both Brayboy and Griffis are familiar with Virginia politics. In 2005, Brayboy worked on Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's gubernatorial campaign. She later became deputy director of the Virginia Human Rights Council.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) is urging Democrats not to take Republican Senate James S. Gilmore III for granted. In an email, Kaine urges people to donate to Democratic candidate Mark R. Warner because Gilmore will be formidable.

"Mark Warner is facing one of the fiercest, most aggressive campaigners in our state's history," said Kaine, who is asking people to donate $5 to Warner. "Before you know it, the polls will tighten, negative attacks will hit the airwaves, and Mark will need the resources to fire back and get his message out."

Ana Gamonal, a Gilmore spokesman, said she doesn't have a problem with Kaine calling her boss "fierce".

"They realize this race is not over as some folks have said," Gamonal said. "We absolutely believe as we move forward into the debates and we start talking substance and policy issues, and Mark Warner is forced to take positions, that Jim Gilmore will win the November election."

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.

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."

House Republican leaders are expected to move ahead today with a proposal to reestablish regional transportation plans in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, setting up a potential split within the GOP caucus.

Del. Phillip A. Hamilton (R-Newport News) said his proposal, which is expected to be embraced by the House leadership after it is heard by a committee today, will include a mix of state-imposed and locally enacted taxes, a concession for GOP leaders who previously had ruled out state-imposed taxes.

Some Virginia Democrats are encouraging Michael L. O'Reilly, the former mayor of Herndon, to run against Del. Thomas Davis Rust (R-Fairfax) next year.

O'Reilly, a lawyer who was mayor from 2004 to 2006, currently serves on the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. In an interview, O'Reilly said he hasn't made up his mind about whether he wants to run for elective office next year.

"I am still heavily involved in the community and I am involved in a lot of things, but I am not a candidate for anything as it stands today," said O'Reilly, who added his wife told him he would be "crazy" if he decided to run for the House. "I am very, very busy running my law practice and very busy with the metropolitan airports board, which is almost a full-time job."

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.

The Republican National Committee announced today that Nicholas Meads will be the director of the party's coordinated campaign in Virginia this year.

Meads, who served as Rep. Tom Davis's 2006 campaign manager, has been active in Virginia GOP political campaigns since 2003, when he graduated from the College of William and Mary. After graduation, Meads managed David Kennedy's unsuccessful campaign to become a state delegate, representing Alexandria. The following year, Meads began working for Davis, serving as his deputy campaign manager. Through his work for Davis, Meads was also involved in former state Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis's reelection effort in 2007.

Experience on Meads resume also includes serving as former attorney general Jerry W. Kilgore's (R) Fairfax County field director during his unsuccessful bid for governor and work for Supervisor Michael C. May (R-Occoquan).

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.

The Republican Party of Virginia is apparently struggling to raise money as it gears up for the presidential race and this year's U.S. Senate race between Democrat Mark R. Warner and Republican James S. Gilmore III.

In an email to supporters today, the state party said it has been running a deficit in recent months.

"Just a few weeks ago, we began our efforts to provide bold, new leadership to the Republican Party of Virginia," the email states. "Yet, it hasn't been easy. RPV ran deficits in April, May and now in June, and recent fundraisers have actually lost money."

Washingtonpost.com's Chris Cillizza ranks the seat of retiring Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) as the second most likely congressional district in the country to flip from one party to the other in this year's elections.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly, who secured the Democratic nomination 10 days ago, is running against Republican businessman Keith Fimian in Virginia's 11th District.

No other Virginia district makes Cillizza's top 20 list this week, but some Democrats believe Rep. Thelma Drake, a Republican who represents Virginia Beach, is vulnerable. Virginia Democrats are also hopeful they can give GOP Reps. Frank R. Wolf in Northern Virginia and Virgil Goode in Southside tough races, even though they represent Republican-leaning districts.

The Republican National Committee responded to Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill) new television ad by pointing out he takes credit for winning passage of a bill that he didn't even vote on.

"The fact that in the first ad of the general election Barack Obama cites a bill he didn't vote for is indicative of how little he has accomplished as a legislator," said Katie Wright, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committeee.

In the ad, which starts airing in Virginia and 17 other states today, Obama talks about his efforts to expand health care for wounded U.S. troops.

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, will begin airing a general election television ad in Virginia on Friday, his campaign announced today.

It will be Obama's first television ad in Virginia since before the Feb. 12 primary.

The 60-second ad, entitled "Country I Love," will also air in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

To read a transcript of the video, continue reading on the next page.

Volunteers for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill) are popping up all over Virginia in an apparent massive effort to register new voters.

Earlier today, at least two twenty-something Obama volunteers were canvassing the financial district in downtown Richmond asking nearly everyone, "Are you registered to vote at your current address?"

They appeared to be having some success, as one of the volunteers had a clip board full of completed registration forms.

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.

U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD.) chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, will host a reception Tuesday in support of Judy Feder, the Democratic candidate running against Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-Va.).

The fundraiser will be held at the Potomac Maryland home of Nancy and Ira Shapiro, a lawyer who served as a trade negotiator during the Clinton administration.

The wealthy Maryland suburbs have been a steady stream of cash for Feder, who also served in the Clinton administration.

The Virginia Organizing Project, a group dedicated to combating racial and economic injustice, is engaged in a big effort this year to spread its political message and register new voters.

The Charlottesville-based group has 10 paid field organizers and 50 interns fanned out across the state knocking on doors each day. On an average night, they can hit as many as 4,000 households, according to Joe Szakos, the executive director.

By the end of July, Szakos said the staffers and interns and other volunteers will have distributed about 300,000 voting guides, which contain information about state and federal issues and details on how and where to go to register to vote.

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.

Virginia Democrats love to snicker about the internal divisions that have plagued the state Republican Party in recent years. Now, they've got their own turmoil.

Some Democrats are fuming over how the state party conducted elections at its convention in Hampton on Saturday.

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.

The man who helped orchestrate Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) victory in the Iowa caucuses will head up his campaign in Virginia, the Obama campaign announced today.

Mitch Stewart, who most recently served as Obama's Iowa Caucus director and then his Indiana state director, will take on the same job in Virginia for the general election.

"Virginia will be a critical state in this election and I am honored to take the helm of Senator Obama's team in Virginia," Stewart said. "Senator Obama has put Virginia on the map in this race, and Obama's success in the primary in February shows we can be very competitive here."

U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes sent out a statement today clarifying his views on Arizona John McCain's (R) presidential bid.

The Hill newspaper reported last night that Forbes (R-Va.) hasn't endorsed McCain. But Forbes vowed to work hard this fall to get McCain elected.

"Senator McCain is a war hero with substantial leadership experience in dealing with the complex challenges currently facing our nation," Forbes said. "Although he has not asked me for my endorsement and I have not given it to his campaign, I will support him and work for his election in the fall because I believe he is the best candidate to select our federal judges, lead our national defense effort, and provide the economic responsibility necessary to restore our economy."

The Hill Newspaper reported last night that U.S. Reps. Virgil Goode and Randy Forbes, both of Virginia, are among 14 GOP members of who Congress who "have refused to endorse or publicly support" presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain, an Arizona senator.

The article gave no explanation as to why Forbes or Goode haven't rallied behind McCain, or whether they ever plan to. A spokesperson for Forbes was not immediately available to comment today. Linwood Duncan, Goode's spokesman, said, "Virgil has not made any endorsements in any races this year." Duncan wasn't sure if Goode planned to make any endorsements later in the year.

Democratic Senate candidate Mark R. Warner and the presumptive GOP nominee for president, Sen. John McCain, have at least one thing in common.

Both start as the early favorite to win in Virginia this year -- Warner more so than McCain -- but they also have to determine how to interact with the other man from their party whose names also appear on the ballot statewide.

It's a potentially delicate dance that could determine whether one party or the other has a chance at sweeping both contests in Virginia.

Republicans in the General Assembly are stepping up their criticism of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) for his role in Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) presidential campaign.

In a statement released today, Del. William R. Janis (R-Goochland) asks, "Is governor Kaine sacrificing Virginia on the alter of vice-presidential ambition?"

After looking into Kaine's schedule, Janis concludes that Kaine has spent "over 19 days (this year) jetting around the country with Barack Obama, but only fifteen hours over 10 days promoting his transportation plan," an apparent reference to Kaine's ongoing series of town hall meetings.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee for president, stopped by Shockoe Express & Roastery in Richmond today before a fund-raiser at the nearby Omni Hotel.

The coffee shop, located in the city's historic Shockoe Slip neighborhood, was one of U.S. Senate Mark R. Warner's (D) favorite hangouts when he was governor from 2002 to 2006.

Before the $1,000 a plate fund-raiser, Mcain hosted about 40 people at a reception.

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.

Paid staffers for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, have begun filtering into Virginia, according to Democratic officials.

Scott A. Surovell, chairman of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee, said he has met two paid Obama field organizers working on voter registration drives and other activities in Northern Virginia. The Obama campaign is also believed to be engaged in an aggressive voter-registration drive in Richmond. The campaign set a goal last month of registering 4,000 new voters in Richmond by June 13.

Some Democrats say the Obama campaign began quietly locating staffers in Virginia shortly after the North Carolina and Indiana primaries on May 6, a month before Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination.

Sen. John W. Warner (R), who is retiring, announced today he has contributed $2,000 to former Republican governor James S. Gilmore III's campaign to succeed him in the Senate.

Warner's announcement comes on the heels of a report in The Hill newspaper that speculated the state's senior senator may not support Gilmore, who secured the GOP nomination last weekend. Warner apparently made the donation to Gilmore sometime this week.

In a statement, Warner said he has also donated $2,000 each this month to GOP Reps. Frank R. Wolf, Thelma Drake, Eric I. Cantor, Randy Forbes and Robert Goodlatte, all of whom are seeking reelection.

GOP Senate nominee James S. Gilmore III said today he expects that U.S. troops will be in Iraq for years to come because they are central to the efforts to combat terrorism around the world.

"The Iraq war is part of a much larger problem and process that is underway," Gilmore said while being interviewed on The Politics Program on WTOP radio. "We have to define what American policy is going to be. I don't think there is any specific time that we are going to be there militarily, but I do know this, we are not going to do a precipitous withdrawal."

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill) offered up only a few clues today about which Virginia Democrat, if any, has a shot at being considered as a vice-presidential candidate this fall.

But it's clear there is a spot in Obama's heart for Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), who endorsed Obama more than a year ago.

Obama appeared at different times today with Kaine, Sen. James Webb and U.S. Senate candidate Mark R. Warner, all of whom are mentioned as possible Democratic vice-presidential contenders.

Former governor and U.S. Senate candidate Mark R. Warner just gave Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) a rousing endorsement during a town-hall meeting in Bristol in Southwest Virginia.

After being introduced by U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va), Warner and Obama emerged on stage together, stopping frequently to shake hands with supporters lining the walkway. Warner then noted the similarities between his campaign strategy and the one Obama has apparently embraced in his effort to win Virginia this fall.

"You know seven years ago, I started my campaign (for governor) right here in Southwest Virginia and a month ago, I was a job applicant again, and I came back to Southwest Virginia to start that campaign for Senate," Warner said. "Today is the first official campaign kickoff of the Senator Obama presidential campaign, so I don't know about you, but I think it says a lot about somebody about where they choose to start their campaign. America is a pretty big place. There are 50 states....But our candidate, Barack Obama, chose right here in Bristol in Southwest Virginia."

In the end, Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) kept his word. But is he admirable or overly cautious?

Webb will get behind Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid today and appear with him at a large rally tonight in Prince William County, Democratic officials said last night.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, will be in Tysons Corner Monday for a high-dollar fundraiser for his campaign and the Republican Party.

The event, which will be held at the Ritz-Carlton, is being hosted by a cross-section of Virginia Republicans and business leaders, including Sen. John W. Warner, former senator George Allen, U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, Del. Christopher B. Saxman (Staunton), Ted Georgelas and Til Hazel, both developers, and P. Wesley Foster Jr., chairman of Long & Foster Companies.

People who raise or contribute $25,000 will be able to get their picture taken with McCain. Tickets for the reception range from $1,000 to $5,000, according to an invitation on McCain's website.

Virginia Republicans are offering up a preview of their strategy for preventing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, from winning the state's 13 electoral votes in the Nov. 4 general election.

In a conference call organized by the Republican National Committee, former attorney general Jerry W. Kilgore and Del. Christopher B. Saxman (Staunton) predicted today that Obama would lose Virginia because of his positions on guns and taxes. The call was a preemptive strike as Obama prepares to campaign tomorrow in Southwest Virginia and Prince William County.

"Senator Obama has got an F rating from the (National Rifle Association) and he has been very critical of the people of rural America for their views on guns," said Kilgore, who was raised in Southwest Virginia. "We all remember the famous quote from Obama that people in rural America cling to their faith and their guns. I think a lot of people will remember that, especially in Southwest Virginia."

Democratic Senate Candidate Mark R. Warner has reshuffled his schedule so that he can appear with Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill) tomorrow at a town-hall meeting in Bristol in Southwest Virginia.

Warner, who has stayed neutral in the presidential race, will not attend the Obama rally at Nissan Pavilion in Prince William due to a prior engagement tomorrow evening. But Warner's appearance with Obama in Bristol will be a symbolic pairing of the two men who will lead the Democratic ticket in the Virginia this year.

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.

Jim Leaman, executive director of the Virginia AFL-CIO, was one of 26.5 superdelegates who endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in a joint statement tonight after the polls closed in South Dakota and Montana.

"I believe that Senator Obama is the right person, in the right place and at the right time to change politics in Washington from strict partisan warfare to one of jointly solving America's problems," Leaman said.

Sen. James Webb (D-Va), Virginia Democratic Party Chairman C. Richard Cranwell and former Labor Secretary Alexis Herman are now the only undeclared superdelegates from Virginia.

Meanwhile, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D), who endorsed Obama more than a year ago, issued a statement urging all Democrats to "unite solidly" behind Obama to "move this country forward."

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the likely Democratic nominee for president, will hold a rally Thursday evening at Nissan Pavilion in Prince William County.

The event is free and open to the public, but admission will be on a first-come, first serve basis. The pavilion, located in Bristow, can seat up to 25,000 for a concert, but it's unclear how it will be configured for a political rally.

Doors open at 3 p.m and the program begins at 6 p.m. Obama will also hold a town hall meeting in Bristol in Southwest Virignia Thursday afternoon. Tickets are required for that event.

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.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the likely Democratic nominee for president, will campaign in Virginia on Thursday, according to Democratic officials.

While the schedule is still being finalized, Obama will likely visit at least two areas of the state, including Northern Virginia. It will be Obama's first campaign swing through Virginia since before the Feb. 12 primary.

Though Virginia hasn't supported a Democratic presidential nominee since 1964, the Obama campaign vows to campaign hard in the state this year in hopes of winning it's 13 electoral votes.

No word yet on whether Democratic Senate candidate Mark R. Warner or Sen. James Webb (D-Va.), both of whom are neutral in the presidential race, will decide to endorse Obama when he comes to the state.

Democrat Sam Rasoul has figured out a way to generate interest in his underdog campaign against U.S. Rep. Robert W. Goodlatte (R-Va.).

On Wednesday, starting at 4 p.m., Rasoul's campaign staff will be pumping discounted gas at the Texaco Food Mart on South High Street in Harrisonburg. For 40 minutes, motorists will be able to get up to 10 gallons of gas for $1-a-gallon less than retail price.

Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) said today he won't run as an Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate, but probably will not be endorsing GOP Senate nominee James S. Gilmore III, either

In an interview, Marshall said he remains upset about mailers Gilmore sent out during the final days of their race for the nomination. Gilmore, a former governor, defeated Marshall by less than 1 percent at the state GOP convention on Saturday.