The U.S. Senate candidates will hold the first debate of the campaign today in a traditional setting -- before the summer convention of the Virginia Bar Association at The Homestead in Hot Springs.

But few expect the gracious elegance of the resort hotel to spill over into the debate.

Trailing badly in the polls and in fundraising, former Gov. Jim Gilmore, a Republican, is expected to go on the attack against former Gov. Mark R. Warner, a Democrat, who succeeded Gilmore in the governor's mansion.

"I think that's Gilmore's personality," said Toni Travis, political scientist at George Mason University. She said she expected Warner to be "calm and businesslike," perhaps inciting Gilmore "to be belligerent."

A preview of the expected dustup was on display this week. Asked who was playing Warner as a stand-in in the preparation for the debate, the Gilmore campaign joked that it was Jim Carrey, the star of the motion picture "Liar, Liar."

David Hallock, a Richmond lawyer and lobbyist who once worked in the Warner administration, portrayed Gilmore for the Warner camp.

Gilmore hopes to make an issue of Warner's pledge, when he was running for governor in 2001, not to raise taxes. Three years later he persuaded the General Assembly to raise taxes by $700 million a year.

Warner says changing circumstances, including huge budget deficits left behind by Gilmore, dictated the need for a tax increase.

The Gilmore campaign posted a video on YouTube Thursday from a 2001 gubernatorial debate in Roanoke in which Warner said he would not raise taxes.

Gilmore was governor from 1998 to 2002. Warner served from 2002 to 2006.

Warner says that all he needs to do is contrast his record in achieving a bipartisan consensus with Gilmore's stormy term as governor.

The winner of the race will succeed Sen. John W. Warner, a Republican, who is retiring after five six-year terms in the Senate.

The Virginia Bar Association has been hosting a debate between statewide candidates for years.

David Broder, longtime Washington Post political reporter and columnist, will be the moderator. The candidates will get to question each other and questions will be submitted from the audience.

Two other candidates have qualified for the ballot -- Libertarian Party candidate William Redpath, and for the Independent Green party, Gail Parker -- but they were not invited to debate.

Kimberly Kovac, communications coordinator for the lawyers' organization, said the association considers polling information, coverage from the media and a level of financial support before deciding whether to invite a candidate. Neither Redpath nor Parker met the criteria, she said.

A debate has been scheduled this fall by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.
Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or twhitley@timesdispatch.com.