Behind Closed Doors, Hoping for Open Minds

With no more than two officials from each jurisdiction, the meeting was not covered by the state's open meetings law. In an exercise more appropriate to a White House Cabinet meeting, reporters were ushered into a Fairfax County Government Center conference room for video and still shots of Kaine with Connolly, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott K. York (I), Prince William County Chairman Corey A. Stewart (R), Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille (D) and others.

No questions were permitted. The group emerged for a news conference after about 90 minutes.

Moran Eyes the Future

Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) has a new Web page criticizing the Republican-authored transportation package. But the page, at http://www.noraid.net, looks suspiciously like the work of someone with grander ambitions than battling the Republican majority of the Virginia House of Delegates.

The first thing the viewer sees upon calling up the page is a form for name, address and e-mail -- valuable information, say, for someone who might run for governor and ask for campaign contributions.

The substance of the site is nothing new for Moran, chairman of the House of Delegates' Democratic Caucus, who has been hammering the point all year that the Republican plan diverts too much money from existing state priorities.

Moran said the site is intended to encourage opponents of the transportation plan to voice their opinions -- not to further his political goals.

"This is the way to communicate your issues and educate people with respect to the issues of the day," he said. "This is the 21st century. I'm very pleased with the site and the response it's received."

The site has generated several hundred responses, Moran said. It was funded by his political action committee, Leadership for Virginia's Future.

Showing Connolly the Money

Connolly covered himself in green last week, and not just for St. Patrick's Day. About 250 people paid $1,000 a plate for his March 16 fundraiser at the Tower Club, where Kaine was the featured speaker.

That night, nearly 600 Democrats ponied up $35 each for beer, corned beef and cabbage at his annual St. Pat's party. Sen. James Webb (D) was the marquee name for the event at the Elks Lodge on Arlington Boulevard in Fairfax. The real stars though, were Webb's wife, Hong Le Webb, and their 3-month-old daughter, Georgia. The Webbs wasted no time immersing her in the family's military tradition by dressing her in a green camouflage T-shirt.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) won Connolly's traditional straw poll, followed by Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), former senator John Edwards and Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.).

The polls have a decent track record of picking nominees. Webb was last year's winner.

Leslie L. Byrne's 2005 nomination for lieutenant governor was presaged as well, although she lost narrowly in the November general election to Republican Bill Bolling.