To many Virginia voters, the Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general may seem like the obscure celebrities who appeared in those old credit-card commercials, uttering the line: “Do you know me?“ Mike Signer and Jody Wagner may not be household names. But both want to be the party’s nominee for the No. 2 job in Virginia.

Jon Bowerbank, who pumped nearly $1 million of his own money into the Democratic contest for lieutenant governor, is pulling out and backing perceived front-runner Jody Wagner. Bowerbank, a member of the Russell County Board of Supervisors, said yesterday that responsibilities to his family and business prevent him from pressing on to the June 9 primary.

Bill Bolling may prove Woody Allen’s axiom: “Ninety percent of life is just showing up.“ As a lieutenant governor running for re-election, Bolling may be in the best position of any of his ticket mates to win in November. That’s because the Republican hasn’t given voters a reason to fire him.

The three men seeking the Democratic nomination for governor stopped in South Richmond last night to discuss jobs, education, health care and their support for restoration of felons’ voting rights. More than 150 local residents, city politicians and campaign operatives gathered at the Southside Community Services Center on Hull Street for a forum sponsored by the Richmond Crusade for Voters. The predominantly black voter-mobilization group traditionally has supported Democratic candidates.

Jody Wagner of Virginia Beach, one of three Democrats seeking the nomination to run for lieutenant governor, outraised Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling in the first quarter, campaign reports show. Wagner, a former secretary of finance under Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, reported raising $375,000 to Bolling’s $302,000. Wagner had more time to raise the money because she does not serve in the General Assembly. As lieutenant governor, Bolling could not raise money during the session.

Pat Edmonson will not be a Democratic candidate for the nomination to run for lieutenant governor. The little-known Virginia Beach School Board member failed to file the required 10,000 signatures with the State Board of Elections Friday to get her name on the ballot. Friday was the deadline for filing to be a candidate in the June 9 primary.

Former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe of McLean will be first on the ballot in the June 9 Democratic gubernatorial primary in Virginia because he was the first to file more than 10,000 signatures yesterday with the State Board of Elections. Former Secretary of Finance Jody Wagner of Virginia Beach will be first among the Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor.

A Democratic political strategist is making the race for lieutenant governor and making education the centerpiece of his campaign.