The plan was to run Virginia’s government computer systems like a business, but the result was two huge outsourcing deals that have missed their targets. The Virginia Information Technologies Agency—where a new chief has done some major house-cleaning, firing three top executives last week—was a key initiative of then-Gov. Mark R. Warner, intended to centralize the state’s computer operations to save money.

The state director for Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., will head to Capitol Hill with a box of petitions signed by Virginians in support of President Barack Obama’s health-care principles. Several hundred health-care-reform supporters gathered at the Bell Tower on the grounds of the state Capitol yesterday evening to express their support for Obama’s efforts. The event was coordinated by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee.

Battling anti-Obama headwinds in the dash for governor, R. Creigh Deeds is trying to hang another unpopular president on Bob McDonnell in a brace of fresh television and radio ads. Deeds, a Democrat, is pairing Republican McDonnell with George W. Bush, whose policies McDonnell—in remarks as recently as last month—credited with leading “an economic revival in America.“

Deeds McDonnell Trailing in the polls and seeking traction with voters, Democratic candidate for governor Creigh Deeds went on the offensive yesterday. He said Republican Bob McDonnell would mire Virginia in an “an ideological crusade” that “replaces mainstream goals with his social agenda” on issues such as abortion. Deeds’ campaign followed his speech at George Mason University in Fairfax County by launching his first television ad since his June 9 victory in the Democratic primary.

Thanks to an early and extensive tour of his sprawling district during the congressional recess, freshman Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th, is the first area member of Congress to brave the fiery health-care debate at a series of town-hall meetings. Now several of his fellow congressmen in the region are suiting up. Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-3rd, and Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., plan to schedule meetings later this month but have not yet released the specifics.

The National Right to Work Committee took to the airwaves yesterday to pressure Virginia Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner to vote against proposed “card-check” legislation. The two Democrats are said to be undecided on the legislation, sought by labor unions and opposed by the business community. The Springfield-based Right to Work Committee has bought $2 million in television ads in five states, including Virginia, urging viewers to call wavering senators. “The truth is, passage of card check would be a massive expansion of union bosses’ power over workers at the expense of their privacy and freedom,“ Dennis Fusaro, executive director of the committee, said during a news conference at the Doubletree Hotel Historic Richmond.

The National Right to Work Committee is running a television ad urging Virginia Sens. Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner to vote against proposed legislation that would allow unions to organize without a secret ballot.

They held up signs: “Government-run health care makes me sick.“ “Can we be more disgusted? Yes we can.“ “No Obama care.“ They chanted slogans: “You work for me!“ “We’ve had enough!“ “Webb vote no, or you will go!“ In downtown Richmond, more than 200 people marched yesterday outside the office of Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., to show their opposition to President Barack Obama’s proposed cap-and-trade energy policy and his health-care plan.

If the public is clamoring for health-care reform, it wasn’t evident at a rally yesterday across from St. John’s Church in Richmond. About 50 people attended the rally to urge three on-the-fence members of the Virginia congressional delegation to get behind a health-care bill that has been adopted by a House of Representatives committee.

A new poll shows President Barack Obama’s popularity slipping in Virginia. Obama had an approval rating of 48 percent and disapproval rating of 46 percent in the Public Policy Polling survey of people who are likely to vote in this year’s general election for statewide offices. Obama carried the state in November with 52.6 percent of the vote.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine yesterday gave a vote of confidence to Northrop Grumman, the giant firm that Virginia is paying $2.3 billion for information-technology services. “We’ve been very happy with Northrop Grumman as a partner. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t some things to work out,“ Kaine said after a rain-hastened rally with the new Democratic ticket at the College of William and Mary.

While three fellow Democrats slug it out for the gubernatorial nomination, Sen. Mark R. Warner is taking a swing at the newly minted Republican ticket, describing it as the “‘No’ camp that didn’t move Virginia forward.“ Warner, usually circumspect in picking partisan fights, blasted GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and attorney general hopeful Ken Cuccinelli for opposing a $1.4 billion tax increase that Warner, as governor, won in 2004 for schools, police and welfare.

Virginia’s U.S. senators have recommended that President Barack Obama nominate Justice Barbara M. Keenan of the Virginia Supreme Court to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. If nominated by Obama and confirmed by the Senate, Keenan would be the first woman from Virginia to serve on the federal appeals court, which serves Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North and South Carolina.

Lauren Cohen Bell, a political-science professor at Randolph-Macon College, says she often errs when making predictions, but not this time. As soon as she heard about Justice David H. Souter’s retirement, she said she thought Sonia Sotomayor would be President Barack Obama’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. Bell worked on Sotomayor’s stalled nomination to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals throughout 1998, when Bell was a fellow on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Republican-controlled Senate eventually confirmed Sotomayor.

Virginia now has access to $806 million in education stimulus funding to help local school systems make up for budget cuts and save teaching jobs. Yesterday’s release of the first portion of state stabilization money comes less than two weeks after Virginia submitted an application for its cut. “The impact of these funds will be felt this summer and fall as teachers and other vital employees—who otherwise would have lost their jobs—return to schools across Virginia to serve the commonwealth’s children,“ said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright.