The two congressional candidates for Virginia’s 5th District talked policy and traded pointed jabs in a packed and rowdy room Tuesday night at American Legion Post 325.

People who want tickets for the Sarah Palin rally Monday in Salem can call Danville’s Republican headquarters at 757-323-1262.

Despite a significant gain by his Democratic challenger Tom Perriello, incumbent Congressman Virgil Goode remains ahead in the most recent poll of the 5th District congressional race. A Survey USA poll released Tuesday shows that 55 percent of likely 5th District voters support their incumbent congressman versus 42 percent who support placing a new man in Washington.

Clinton will campaign in Roanoke on Sunday, October 12t

Congressman Virgil Goode’s announcement Wednesday that he wouldn’t be participating in next week’s debate with Democratic challenger Tom Perriello came as a surprise to news executives who had already slotted the time for the televised showdown.

Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama continue to run neck and neck in Virginia, according to a new poll. The Mason-Dixon Virginia Poll, which was conducted Sept. 29-Oct. 1, shows McCain is favored by 48 percent of the state’s voters, compared to 45 percent for Obama. The poll has a margin of error of 4 percent.

All are set to meet in their first of three 90-minute debates. Follow along with the Herd on the Trail BLOG from our Washington Bureau. Take our reader poll.

You can’t vote in Virginia if you’re not registered, and the deadline for registering to vote in this election is close of business, Monday, Oct. 6.

During the Sept. 3 forum featuring the two men hoping to represent the 5th District in Congress — and in public statements since — fingers were pointed and a lot of uproar was made about where the other’s campaign financing was coming from.In short, Democratic challenger Tom Perriello accused sitting Congressman Virgil Goode of being in the pocket of big oil companies and other corporate lobbyists. Goode shot back that Perriello is getting most of his money from out of state liberal donors, particularly from New York and California.

The two candidates vying for the 5th District House seat faced off Wednesday in a vinegary quasi-debate, the first of the campaign season.

Helms, 86, died July 4 after years of declining health. The funeral will be held at Hayes-Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh, where Helms worshipped for decades and was a deacon.