Sen. John Unger's 11th-hour exit from the 2nd Congressional District race continues to be the subject of intense speculation - particularly since his cover story doesn't seem to fit.

Is it really possible that, after six months and more than $250,000 of contributions raised, it suddenly dawned on Unger that he couldn't stomach the idea of fundraising or being beholden to big-money contributors?

Let's not forget that it's not like he shut down his campaign on filing deadline day.

As noted here previously, his campaign had "gone dark" since mid-October. (Unger insists he was doing grassroots organizing in the interim.)

All of which led to a slew of speculation last week that Unger dropped out for personal reasons - which would have made him the second consecutive Democratic candidate for that seat to have his campaign derailed over personal affairs.

Trying to broach the topic delicately, I went up to Unger and told him that, despite our differences, I was disappointed I wasn't invited to his wedding.

Unger responded that yes, he had heard that rumor (among others) but was adamant that he has no wedding plans, either now or in the foreseeable future.

Unger told me he truly did find the aspect of constantly having to raise campaign funds unpalatable.

He said he was also concerned that his reputation would be smeared because of attack ads that independent expenditure groups such as moveon.org would do on his behalf - even though he would have no say over their content.

Unger said he didn't want to be branded as a negative campaigner, which he said would be inevitable once those attack ads began airing.

(Not to mention that Republican independent expenditure groups would have aired attack ads targeting him.)

In my opinion, it came down to one thing: Unger finally realized, as others have been telling him, that Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., would have cleaned his clock in the general election.

In fact, Unger seemed to be running on one issue, voter discontent over the war in Iraq, which seemingly has ceased to be page-one news in the months since he announced his candidacy last spring.

In the end, all Unger accomplished was to cost a much more formidable candidate, longtime Byrd aide Anne Barth, six months of  fundraising and organizing time.

Speaking of which, I'm told many businesspeople who make up the Jay '08 Club (those who've made the maximum contribution to Rockefeller's re-election campaign) were not thrilled with Jay's endorsement of Barth.

Many had already committed to support Capito, in anticipation of what they thought would be a Capito-Unger race in November.

Sen. John Unger's 11th-hour exit from the 2nd Congressional District race continues to be the subject of intense speculation - particularly since his cover story doesn't seem to fit.

Is it really possible that, after six months and more than $250,000 of contributions raised, it suddenly dawned on Unger that he couldn't stomach the idea of fundraising or being beholden to big-money contributors?

Let's not forget that it's not like he shut down his campaign on filing deadline day.

As noted here previously, his campaign had "gone dark" since mid-October. (Unger insists he was doing grassroots organizing in the interim.)

All of which led to a slew of speculation last week that Unger dropped out for personal reasons - which would have made him the second consecutive Democratic candidate for that seat to have his campaign derailed over personal affairs.

Trying to broach the topic delicately, I went up to Unger and told him that, despite our differences, I was disappointed I wasn't invited to his wedding.

Unger responded that yes, he had heard that rumor (among others) but was adamant that he has no wedding plans, either now or in the foreseeable future.

Unger told me he truly did find the aspect of constantly having to raise campaign funds unpalatable.

He said he was also concerned that his reputation would be smeared because of attack ads that independent expenditure groups such as moveon.org would do on his behalf - even though he would have no say over their content.

Unger said he didn't want to be branded as a negative campaigner, which he said would be inevitable once those attack ads began airing.

(Not to mention that Republican independent expenditure groups would have aired attack ads targeting him.)

In my opinion, it came down to one thing: Unger finally realized, as others have been telling him, that Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., would have cleaned his clock in the general election.

In fact, Unger seemed to be running on one issue, voter discontent over the war in Iraq, which seemingly has ceased to be page-one news in the months since he announced his candidacy last spring.

In the end, all Unger accomplished was to cost a much more formidable candidate, longtime Byrd aide Anne Barth, six months of  fundraising and organizing time.

Speaking of which, I'm told many businesspeople who make up the Jay '08 Club (those who've made the maximum contribution to Rockefeller's re-election campaign) were not thrilled with Jay's endorsement of Barth.

Many had already committed to support Capito, in anticipation of what they thought would be a Capito-Unger race in November.

On the other side, I'm hearing that die-hard Unger supporters are blaming Gov. Joe Manchin and state Democratic Party leadership

for Unger's departure.

But, hey, what more could they do for someone who hadn't yet secured the party's nomination?

Manchin introduced Unger at at least two fundraisers, and the party gave him a prominent speaking role at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner featuring Bill Clinton.

One bit of good news from filing deadline day is that former Delegate Cindy Frich's brief career as a Statehouse columnist came to an end when she filed to run for the House seat she lost in 2006.

I'm told that many of her columns in the Morgantown Dominion Post (which should be embarrassed for hiring Frich in the first place) were devoted to bashing Monongalia County's Democratic delegation. So, Frich just happened to be trashing the candidates she will face in the November general election, which I suppose raises some ethical questions.

Then again, I think I can speak for the whole press corps in saying we're just thrilled that she's vacated the Capitol pressroom.

Finally, the circus - check that - the party tent erected next to the governor's mansion during the holidays will be getting more use this month.

Next week, the tent will play host to the annual Speaker's Dinner, and the President's Dinner on the following evening. That's a switch for the black-tie affairs, which traditionally take place in swanky accommodations downtown.

Also next week, the governor will host his annual legislative reception at the mansion's party tent.

However, it's a reception scheduled for Monday in the party tent that's giving some legislators heartburn.

The Oil Marketers and Grocers Association and the West Virginia Truck Association are hosting a joint reception in the governor's mansion party tent.

While one could argue that leasing the party tent (or the banquet hall that inevitably will be built on that site someday) is no more improper than leasing the Great Hall of the Cultural Center for a legislative reception, some legislators see it as pushing toward a red zone of at least an appearance of impropriety.

To contact staff writer Phil Kabler, e-mail ph...@wvgazette.com">ph...@wvgazette.com or call 348-1220.