Campaign contributions sparked the most pointed comments yesterday as the three Democratic gubernatorial candidates did little to highlight their policy differences in their first debate.

The Wakefield Ruritan Club’s 61st annual Shad Planking proves that the way to a Virginian’s vote is not through his stomach. In an annual rite, hundreds of politicos and aspiring public servants converged on the piney woods of Sussex County yesterday to munch on oily, bony, salty fish and to poke fun at one another at the unofficial kickoff of the primary season.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian J. Moran said yesterday that, if elected, he would authorize the sale of $10million in revenue bonds to help create biotechnology jobs. The bonds would be part of a 10-year, $100million commitment to finance construction of a biotechnology “wet lab” and production facilities, he said yesterday while discussing his broader plan to create and attract more high-tech jobs.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell raised $2.2 million in the first quarter, outpacing two of his three Democratic rivals. McDonnell, who is unopposed for the Republican nomination, reported $3.5 million in cash on hand through March 31. “We have far more cash on hand than any of our potential opponents,“ said McDonnell’s campaign manager, Phil Cox. “While they must raise and spend, we are building the resources we need to win in November.“

The three Democratic rivals for governor wasted little time yesterday in attacking GOP candidate Bob McDonnell and other Republicans for opposing a plan to boost unemployment benefits in Virginia with $125.5 million in federal stimulus money.

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.

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.

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.“

The three Democratic candidates for Virginia governor will hold five debates and make three joint appearances throughout the state in the weeks leading up to the June 9 primary. The announcement came in a joint news release issued by the campaigns for Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath County; Terry McAuliffe of McLean, former Democratic National Committee chairman; and former Sen. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria. The campaign managers for the candidates promised “spirited debates on the important issues facing Virginians.“

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe said he would emphasize tax incentives to encourage re newable energy. His “Business Plan for Virginia,“ announced yesterday at a news conference in Richmond, would establish a $100 million energy-independence revolving loan fund to retrofit homes with energy efficient equipment and take steps to reduce state government’s use of fossil fuels. McAuliffe said the economic decline would force him to phase in the loan fund.

IIn a recent sit-down with the Editorial staff of this newspaper, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe was asked for his thoughts on education. McAuliffe heaped praise on Gov. Tim Kaine’s efforts to expand pre-kindergarten. He advocated smaller class sizes in kindergarten through the third grade. Spending more money on the front end, he said, would save money in later years. He noted that teacher salaries in Virginia lag behind the national average, and suggested higher pay—along with assurances of teacher quality.

Brian J. Moran and R. Creigh Deeds, rivals for the Democratic nomination for governor, are collecting fresh endorsements in vote-rich Northern Virginia. A top strategist for Terry McAuliffe, who is readying to make it a three-way primary, said some Virginians are expressing “buyer’s remorse” in backing McAuliffe’s opponents. Moran, a former delegate from Alexandria, returned yesterday to Arlington County, where he started in politics 20 years ago as a junior prosecutor, to pick up the backing of nearly a dozen elective officials.

The declining economy is having a trickle-down effect on the Democratic contest for Virginia governor. The three rivals for the party’s nomination—to be decided in an open-to-all-voters primary June 9—said last night that economic recovery is essential to protecting state jobs and services from further cuts. Sen. R. Creigh Deeds of Bath, former Del. Brian J. Moran of Alexandria and former Democratic national chairman Terry McAuliffe of McLean appeared on WVTF-FM’s “Evening Edition.“