The bio on Delegate Robert M. Marshall's 2008 U.S. Senate campaign website shares this little tidbit: "He has a personal library of 2000+ books, is an avid reader of history, philosophy, constitutional issues, and medical, social and political issues of importance."

Meanwhile, the two other men eyeing retiring Republican Sen. John W. Warner's seat — former governors Jim Gilmore, the Republican battling Marshall to become the party's nominee, and Mark Warner, a Democrat with double digit leads in early polls — do not mention the size of their libraries on their respective campaign Web sites.

On Gilmore's campaign page he reminds us he is a Richmond native and son of a butcher. On Warner's site he reminds us he is a former high tech business person who co-founded the company that became Nextel.

So I emailed both campaigns, requesting a book count and posing this question: How much importance voters should put in the size of one's library?

I received some entertaining answers.

"Former Governor Jim Gilmore has an extensive library in his Richmond home," said Ana M. Gamonal, spokesman for his Senate campaign. "He's partial to history and non-fiction and is currently reading The American Creation by Joseph Ellis, a book about the founding fathers."

"As far as Bob Marshall and his 2,000-book library, reports are that it contains only 1,922 books," she said. "Perhaps he should count them again!"

As for Warner, Kevin Hall, his spokesman, responded by saying "A lot."

Then, Hall shot back this question.

"Riddle me this: I'm busy. Why aren't you?"

— Seth McLaughlin, Virginia politics reporter, The Washington Times