Terry McAuliffe, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, says he has raised an additional $4.2 million, pushing his total since last fall to $5.2 million. The latest burst of bucks came in between Jan. 1 and March 31. McAuliffe is collecting cash but spending it, too. He has a balance of $2.5 million. McAuliffe released his campaign-finance figures yesterday—ahead of his opponents—apparently hoping to demonstrate broad appeal as well as fundraising prowess. Campaign-finance reports are due April 15.

A funny thing happened to Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell when he tried to ride the wave of publicity that accompanies the NCAA Basketball Tournament: He sponsored his own March Madness bracket contest—and the guy who won just happens to be employed by the Democratic Party and is working to defeat him in November. Democratic Party of Virginia research director Greg Scanlon outpicked 786 other pool entrants to win the right to either face McDonnell and his sons in a 3-on-3 basketball game or to be treated to dinner.

Out-of-state money is pouring into the Virginia governor’s race, with Bob McDonnell the biggest beneficiary—landing a $1 million check from the Republican Governors Association. Terry McAuliffe, one of three candidates for the Democratic nomination, picked up $475,000 from two unions. Most of the cash—$425,000—came from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The International Association of Firefighters steered $50,000 to McAuliffe.

It’s not easy running for governor when you have to run off the head of your party. Consider Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell—who endorsed the ouster of GOP Chairman Jeffrey M. Frederick—and now is making a plea for party unity. “We must turn our attention to the November elections and work together to advance our positive, common-sense vision for bringing jobs and opportunity to every region of Virginia,“ McDonnell said in a statement. “I look forward to leading the effort to unify our party after this vote.“

The four candidates for governor made a pitch for high-tech support yesterday before leaders of Northern Virginia’s technology community. Promising to devote most of their attention to creating more jobs, the three Democrats seeking the party’s nomination and lone Republican agreed that Virginia’s economy needs help. Terry McAuliffe, one of the Democrats, said transportation is holding back Virginia’s progress and he said he is building a grass-roots organization in his gubernatorial campaign that will try to gain Democratic control of the House of Delegates.

It’s a little early for polls. But the pool is just right. The Virginia governor’s race has tightened considerably—for top honors in the Richmond Times-Dispatch NCAA Basketball Gubernatorial Bracket. Heading into Final Four weekend, the University of Connecticut, Villanova University, Michigan State University and the University of North Carolina are all that remain of the 65-team field.

The nation’s first felony spam conviction remains reversed as the U.S. Supreme Court declined yesterday to consider a request to reinstate Virginia’s tough anti-spam law. In September, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled Virginia’s Anti-Spam Act of 2003 was unconstitutional because it barred all anonymous, unsolicited bulk e-mails—even those with political, religious or other protected content—not just commercial speech, which can be restricted.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee campaigned with Virginia gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell in Roanoke yesterday, helping him raise $50,000 and praising him as the Republican who can help restore the party’s fortunes nationwide. Speaking to reporters, Huckabee, who lost to Arizona Sen. John McCain last year in his bid to win the Republican nomination for president, criticized those who say “that the Republican Party has sort of already experienced its demise and that the funeral services are being planned in the near future.“

Former Attorney General Bob McDonnell kicked off his campaign for governor yesterday by promising to focus on job creation in a state that is hurting economically. “Whether I’m in Leesburg or Lee County, there is not a day that goes by where I don’t see the pain and anxiety this economy is causing,“ he said at a rally in Henrico County. He also spoke at rallies in Annandale and Virginia Beach; he has lived in all three places.

Having departed the Black Forest of academe for the back streets of the Internet, pundit Bob Holsworth recently took a shot on his blog, virginia tomorrow.com, at Terry McAuliffe. Noting McAuliffe’s payroll is nearing 100, Holsworth labeled the Democratic gubernatorial prospect a one-man economic-stimulus plan. Commenting on Holsworth’s musings, irrepressible former Del. Barnie Day of Patrick County, typed: “McAuliffe win in June = McDonnell win in November.“

Republican Bob McDonnell stressed economic growth as he kicked off his campaign for governor at stops in Annandale, the Richmond area and Virginia Beach today. In the Richmond area, McDonnell has a rally scheduled for 3 p.m. at J.R. Tucker High School on North Parham Road in Henrico County. “The top priority for the next governor is clear: bring people together to solve problems, get our economy moving again and create new jobs and opportunity in our commonwealth,“ he said in prepared remarks.

Mitt Romney, a former and perhaps future GOP presidential hopeful, will headline the Commonwealth Gala on May 29 at the state Republican convention. The former Massachusetts governor will address the state party fundraiser at the Richmond Marriott, 500 E. Broad St. Tickets will cost $75 per person, $140 per couple, or $550 for a table of 10.

The Right Thing Jeff Frederick seems eminently qualified to serve as chairman of the Republican Club at Sean Hannity Middle School. The delegate from Prince William serves as chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia instead. There’s the rub. The state’s Republicans have endured a rocky road. Although not all of their ailments can be attributed to the content and style of Frederick’s leadership, the party’s internal chaos complicates, and perhaps compromises, its recovery. The quality of his tenure was captured best when Frederick linked Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden in a statement he subsequently claimed was a quip. His comments drew a swift rebuke from John McCain. While individuals with tempered politics occasionally throw verbal bombs, rhetorical extremism often reflects extremism of the ideological kind.

Six senior Republican state senators have joined the call to oust the state party chairman, Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick of Prince William County, saying the party is no longer functional under his control. “An overwhelming majority of our caucus has expressed grave concern over the state of affairs at the Republican Party of Virginia in recent months and has lost confidence in Del. Frederick’s leadership,“ the senators wrote last week in a letter to Michael E. Thomas, vice chairman of the party.

In the days after he became Virginia’s attorney general in 2006, Bob McDonnell made a point of visiting each member of the staff and asking their thoughts on the attorney general’s office. Later, when the staffers had birthdays, McDonnell sent them cards or called. “I think everybody felt appreciated by him,“ said James Towey, a former senior assistant attorney general under McDonnell who is now running as a Democrat for the House of Delegates.