Washington Post | Amy Gardner and Michael D. Shear

Republican Robert F. McDonnell made a bet at his first debate in the Virginia governor’s race Saturday: that turning the contest into a referendum on President Obama’s increasingly contentious national agenda will sway the election.

Time after time in the ballroom of the Homestead resort in Hot Springs, Va., McDonnell raised federal issues, trying to force Democrat R. Creigh Deeds to take positions on greenhouse gas emission limits, union elections, the federal stimulus package and health-care reform. The aim is to lure Virginia’s crucial bloc of pro-business moderates, many of whom voted for Democrats in recent statewide elections but are growing increasingly alarmed at Obama’s policies.

• Gubernatorial Debate Analysis | McKinsey Harris
• National Agenda Pushed In Debate | Rosalind S. Helderman

USA Today | Fredreka Schouten

The two candidates in Virginia’s gubernatorial race have released their latest fundraising totals — and they’re using the numbers to attack each other.

Republican Bob McDonnell, whose campaign released his numbers this morning, quickly points out that his $4.9 million cash-on-hand total is “far more money in the bank, from far more donors, than its Democratic opponent.” Democrat Creigh Deeds has about $2.7 million in the bank right now.

Overall, McDonnell brought in more than $1.8 million; Deeds raised $3.4 million. The reports cover fundraising between May 28 and June 30. Deeds won a three-way Democratic primary on June 9.

Winchester Star | Drew Houff

Winchester — The Republican Party should be very happy, according to campaign finance figures released Tuesday by the GOP and rival Democrats.

The gubernatorial campaign of Robert F. McDonnell announced that it has nearly $5 million in the bank as of May 27, a strong advantage compared to the nearly $3.4 million reported by Democratic candidate R. Creigh Deeds.

A battle over funding is expected, since McDonnell and Deeds squared off in 2005 in one of Virginia’s closest elections — with McDonnell winning the balloting for attorney general by 323 votes over the state senator from Hot Springs.

The McDonnell campaign also reported that 75 percent of its contributors come from Virginia, another signal of his support in the race.

Google News| BETH FOUHY

Sarah Palin’s decision to step down as Alaska governor was driven in part by her wish to help Republican candidates across the country, associates say.

But in New Jersey and Virginia, both of which have competitive governors’ races this year, the prospect of a visit from the party’s 2008 vice presidential nominee has so far drawn a muted response from the GOP contenders in both states.

In Virginia, a historically conservative state where Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate since 1964 to win, Republican Bob McDonnell said Tuesday his campaign had had conversations with the Palin camp but stopped short of saying whether he wanted her help.

Washington Examiner | William C. Flook

Bob McDonnell could be forgiven for feeling like Atlas.

McDonnell has found himself running both a national and statewide campaign, with a task that extends beyond reversing a bruising trend for the Virginia Republican Party by claiming the governor’s mansion. Fairly or not, he’s been tasked with lifting the entire Republican brand out of the mud.

But McDonnell doesn’t seem to mind the weight on his shoulders.

“I certainly would like to be instrumental in helping to facilitate the resurgence of the conservative cause and demonstrating that our principles of limited government are best for all citizens,” McDonnell said. “I actually welcome that.

Hotline on Call | National Journal

A new Common Sense VA television ad began running today on both broadcast and cable stations targeting GOP gubernatorial nom Bob McDonnell’s claim that he’ll be a jobs governor. The buy is six figures, and the spot will air in the Northern Virginia, Richmond, Norfolk and Roanoke markets.

This ad is the latest in a series highlighting McDonnell’s opposition to accepting $125M in federal economic stimulus funding.

Richmond Times — Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell has extended a television advertising campaign to vote-rich Northern Virginia.

The campaign is offering two commercials, both biographical. One emphasizes McDonnell’s experience, and the other shows him interacting with his wife and five children.

McDonnell began advertising in other areas of the state, including Richmond, last week.

McDonnel for Governor

Polls Find McAuliffe Leading Primary Field

Richmond Times Dispatch-A Democratic group is spending more than $500,000 to criticize Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell for opposing a $125 million expansion of unemployment benefits.

The ad buy on broadcast and cable television is the largest of the campaign. A spokesman for Common Sense Virginia said about $400,000 will go toward ads in the more expensive Northern Virginia market, while about $150,000 is being spent on ads in the Richmond, Norfolk and Roanoke markets.

NV Daily — One of the three Democratic contenders for governor is accusing Republican candidate Bob McDonnell of using tax dollars to run his campaign. But the Republican’s campaign says the charge from former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe is just hyperbole from a candidate with his own fundraising ethics issues.