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Members of both parties in the General Assembly have promised to discuss transportation funding again when lawmakers return to Richmond in January. But most express little hope of reaching a compromise soon.

Instead, many Virginia politicians are expecting a spirited debate about who's to blame as all 140 House and Senate seats come up for election next year.

"That's what a campaign is for," Connolly said. "Between now and then, there will be a lot of effort to raise public awareness about who to hold accountable."

The Post poll suggested that both parties have a lot of work to do. In the survey, 19 percent statewide blamed House Republicans; 18 percent blamed Senate Republicans; and 15 percent blamed Democrats in the House and Senate.

Taken together, General Assembly members received the majority of the blame, but 17 percent said everyone in state government was equally to blame, and 17 percent had no opinion.

"I'm not blaming a party, but the fact is that all legislators are stubborn. So I'm blaming the legislature," Rosenbaum said Wednesday. Kaine "obviously doesn't have the persuasive powers of his predecessor, but I'm not laying the blame at his doorstep.''

Tina Miller, 77, a Democrat from Alexandria, said she blames the General Assembly for the transportation stalemate.

"They sat on it," she said. "They don't live in Northern Virginia. The governor was trying, or he said he was trying."

Aides to Kaine said they believe the governor has avoided political harm by making an effort, even if it has not been successful. Kaine spokesman Kevin Hall hinted that the governor will be an active player in the political blame game next year.

"Governor Kaine will continue to insist on smarter and better transportation reforms. The so-far-unsuccessful fight for adequate resources is not over," he said. "But let's be clear: This delay will result in higher costs and additional aggravation for Northern Virginia residents and businesses."

Polling director Jon Cohen and staff writer Eric M. Weiss contributed to this report.