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.

Some 750 party stalwarts closed ranks a couple of weeks ago -- at least they checked their cudgels at the door -- when former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliano came to town and in that Yankee clip he’s got, helped the southwest drawler add half a million dollars to his campaign war chest.

The spin of the day was, “Gee, see how united we are!”

And, hey, it was an impressive display of checkbook uummmph. A half million dollar luncheon two and a half years out ain’t bad.

Good thing he’s got that long. He’s going to need it to knock the edges off the internal party splinters.

Most observers, this one included, think Kilgore has practiced nearly flawless politics over the last year and a half, routinely hitting not just the fat pitches, but a few high and inside ones, right out of the park in a manner that bespeaks more than a little political ease and grace.

And then, just the other day, he whiffed one. And it was a doozy.

Kilgore issued an opinion that Virginia’s colleges and universities could, in fact, continue to pass out those little, so-called ‘morning after’ pills. Of course, Delegate Robert Marshall, R-Manassas, leader of the right in the House, had been keel-hauling the school presidents on that very issue -- even to the point that one or two nervous Nellies had pulled the pills.

Tuesday, Marshall whizzed a brush-back pitch past the AG, accusing his office of breaking the law. Said he in a letter to Kilgore:

“The opinion issued by a subordinate in your office (5/9/03) regarding so-called ‘emergency contraception’ and state colleges is lacking in clarity, scientific accuracy, conformity to the Code of Virginia as applied by the Virginia as applied by the Virginia Department of Health and conflicts with the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth.”

Wait a minute. I missed something there. Not only is Marshall accusing the Attorney General of Virginia of breaking the law, but he also says that the opinion “conflicts with the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth.”

Wow.

Marshall’s letter runs to three single-spaced pages and quotes enough chapter and verse law to Kilgore to stop a train.

Says he to the AG: “Your office speaks of ‘unprotected sex’ as if this were a neutral legal or medical term, when in fact it assumes that pregnancy is a disease, a dysfunction, or a pathology.”

And a ‘nother thang, according to the letter: “Your office chose a definition of pregnancy devised by abortionists who were aware that women made a moral distinction between preventing anew life, and ending one.”

Finally, this: “Virginians deserve better than the misleading opinion for your subordinate. Failure ton your part to correct this error-laden opinion can only undermine the credibility and authority of your office. I urge you to…do the right thing.”

So, what about it, Jerry? You going to do the right thing, or what? What is the right thing?

Oh, I see. You going to stall ol’ Bob and hope he goes away? That the plan? Not a good plan, Jerry. Not good, at all.

Me?

As much as it burdens me to watch two Republicans go at each other, I’m going to drag me up a chair and get comfortable. This one is going to get good before it is over with.

And just for the record, lest there be any doubt. My money’s on Bob.