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HOV Traffic Waits for No Man, Even the President
A spokesman for Allen, who gathered campaign cash with Bush at the home of former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie, said he had no idea the Secret Service had made such a request.
"I'm not aware of any such thing," campaign manager Dick Wadhams said. "We would not have supported such a proposal. Oh my Lord. Wow. No. Not aware of any such proposal. Certainly grateful it didn't happen that way."
  If HOV lanes on Interstate 395 had closed, the resulting traffic jams would have redefined "political gridlock in D.C.," says John Townsend of AAA Mid-Atlantic. (By Leslie E. Kossoff -- Associated Press) |
It didn't, the state officials said, because folks in Virginia worked "into the night" to convince those in Washington of the commuter -- and political -- nightmare that could ensue, one Richmond official said.
The efforts included calls to the Secret Service and to people in Washington who might be more politically attuned to the TV news contrast between Bush at a glitzy fundraiser and miles of red brake lights on the highway.
It took a bit of convincing, they said, but ultimately word came down that no road closure would be necessary.
Mackin said that "by 7 p.m., the decision was made" that the president would find another way to the fundraiser.
In a "stand-down" e-mail sent at 9:24 p.m., Virginia officials were given reason to breathe a sigh of relief.
"No hov issues, no additional support will be needed," the Virginia e-mail said.
When all was said and done, the president did what just about all Northern Virginia motorists probably wish they could do.
He flew over rush hour in a helicopter.
