Potentially Presidential Pols Pass in a Va. Night

For Warner, Saturday was the beginning of a frenetic 10-day road trip designed to showcase him as a loyal Democrat, a serious policy wonk and a hip, Internet-savvy politician. In addition to New Hampshire's Democratic Convention, he is scheduled to make speeches before the Japan Society in New York and a Democratic blogger conference in Las Vegas.

At the Jefferson, he assembled supporters from across the country to trade business cards, coordinate fundraising and listen to experts dissect the policy challenges the next president will face.

They listened to two of former president Bill Clinton's terrorism advisers, Richard A. Clarke and Daniel Benjamin, and they heard from Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and U.S. Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. (Tenn.).

The three-day weekend retreat was also designed as a fancy thank-you for the leaders of that army, Warner's bundlers, the people who bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars by grouping together many individual contributions.

In addition to the barbecue dinner, the guests were offered the chance to drive race cars around the track at Richmond International Raceway. As they boarded charter buses to take them to the speedway, the guests walked by a white Ford pickup filled with Allen signs for the GOP's "Commonwealth Gala."

"When they're the ones having a black-tie dinner and we're the ones at NASCAR, that says it all," crowed Chet Atkins, a former U.S. representative from Massachusetts. "If we can put ourselves at the track and put them in tuxedos for the election, it's game over."

That was not the sentiment among the nearly 250 Republicans, who soon filled the newly redecorated Grand Ballroom and raised about $100,000 for their state party.

Asked how she felt to be standing in a room that just hours before had been filled with Warner devotees, party Chairman Kate Obenshain Griffin deadpanned: "It feels much better now."

Allen whipped up the crowd, starting his speech as he usually does when he's in front of a friendly group of Republicans: "Good evening, patriots!" And he received thunderous applause with his promise to oppose illegal immigration.

Allen was followed by Ed Gillespie, the former Republican National Committee chairman and head of Allen's political action committee. Taking a swipe at state senators who have voted to raise taxes, he said: "Good things happen when Republicans act like Republicans."

Allen and Warner managed to miss each other the entire night. Back from New Hampshire, Warner boarded an elevator at the hotel just before Allen arrived for the gala.

Asked whether he thought it was interesting that both events were taking place on the same day at the same hotel, Allen grinned.

"I reckon," was all Virginia's junior senator would say.

Warner, too, did not want to talk about his potential rival, but he noted the curiosity that both men -- who are traveling throughout the country -- would end up back in Richmond at the same hotel.

"People talk about [six] degrees of separation," Warner said, shaking his head. "I think there are only two degrees, or even one."

In the lobby, Warner stopped briefly at the Young Republicans reception, where he greeted several youthful members of the opposition party. Neal Miller, a co-chairman in the Arlington GOP, said he was impressed by Warner's grace.

"We're a big-tent party," Miller joked. "If former governor Warner wants to join the Republican Party at this late stage, we're more than willing to take him."

As he left the reception, heading toward the racetrack, Warner told the young Republicans: "Good luck -- but not too much!"

And then, under his breath, he added: "Never a dull moment."