Barnie Day was a Democratic delegate from Patrick County from his election in 1997 through the 2001 session. A former county administrator and business owner, he is now a banker.

The jockeying, the post-session run-up to elections in November begins, with ground shifts here and there, particularly in the west, acutely in the Roanoke Valley, that will have implications statewide.

There even emerges the prospects, the hope, the barest, faintest possibility, an outline, even, of Democratic resurgence. How so? We'll connect the dots on that one in a moment.

Of course, there are always retirements. Every year good folks -- and all of them are good -- leave distinguished service in the General Assembly and go home. And always, their presence is missed. Always, the areas they represent are set back a notch or two.

There are others this year, but three in the west, in tandem, will nearly be irreplaceable.

The great Woodrum retires. There won't be another one like him. And not just because he was an unabashed liberal. As in Chapel Hill liberal. As in Frank Porter Graham liberal. He was wit, passion, intellect and intensity wrapped up in a well-tailored suit. You parried with Woodrum at your own risk. Thank you, Chip.

Vic Thomas retires. Chairman of the Mumble Caucus, he hid, barely, with keen slyness, reason, a sense of fairness, in rumpled clothes, and in gibberish and dialect -- if you can call it that -- that would have bewildered a bridge troll. You can imagine the sheer delight it gave the rest of us. He was the conscience of the outdoors in Virginia, and the patron saint of the state's disabled. There won't be another one like him. Thank you, Vic.

Bo, the great Trumbo, retires. You can write this one on the wall. There won't be another Trumbo. From the 10-gallon hat, to the 10-gallon brains, there won't be another one in the Senate like Trumbo. In a game run more than anything by the rules, Bo, a cunning country lawyer, knew the rules. Thank you, Bo.

The announce retirements of these three -- with Cranwell's two years ago -- represents a quantum loss in legislative clout for all of Western Virginia. That loss will be felt acutely in Roanoke.

There are others. Two must be noted.

Karen Darner retires. The greatest liberal in the General Assembly, perhaps in all of Virginia. A gentle person with steel conviction, she was the staunchest protector of minority rights in Richmond. She staked out her positions with ease and grace, and with confidence that was silky but relentless. There won't be another one like her. We're all in your debt, Karen. Thank you.

And the good doctor Broman retires. Though never a cloutish member of the House, he was a man of quiet intellect and reason. He spoke rarely, but when he did, everyone listened -- and was the better for it. Broman epitomized the idea of a citizen legislator better than any other. Doctor, we need more like you. Thank you, sir.

Thus, with the loss of Woodrum, Thomas and Darner, Democrats continue to diminish in number. How, then, to even think resurgence in any of this? Are we mad? Have we taken complete leave of our senses?

Of course not. But you can forget the House. The gap there is too big to close. The key to Democratic resurgence in Virginia is in the Senate.

Senate Republicans go into November with a 23-17 majority. Ooh, daddy. That's closer today than it used to seem.

How close? I can close that gap in 30 words.

Trumbo steps down. Cranwell steps up. Bennett gets in against Ruff -- and wins. Askew -- that's right, the spurned judge -- gets in. Anyone want to bet how that one would go?

Of course, the tie-breaker is already there.

You think that's a stretch?

This is politics. Stranger things have happened.