Webb hopes extra inauguration tickets go to Virginia

WASHINGTON

Your nation's capital is throwing a party, and it looks like pretty much everyone in Virginia wants to come.

With more than 26,000 requests for tickets to President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration already in hand, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb pleaded with colleagues Thursday to give next-door-neighbor Virginia special consideration in ticket allocations for the Jan. 20 ceremony.

"It is our hope to accommodate as many residents of the Capital-area as possible, and I hope you take into consideration our unique situation," Webb said in a letter to California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, head of a joint congressional committee overseeing the inauguration ceremony.

The historic nature of Obama's victory - the Illinois senator will be the first African American president - is expected to draw more than 1 million people to Washington for his swearing-in. Each member of the House typically gets about 200 tickets to distribute; senators generally get about 500 each.

Demand is heaviest among Democrats, particularly African Americans. Rep. Bobby Scott of Newport News, the lone black member of Virginia's House delegation, stopped taking requests after the total hit 10,000; Rep. Randy Forbes of Chesapeake, a Republican, has logged about 2,000.

All the tickets are free. Reports last week that tickets were being offered for sale on some Webs sites prompted Feinstein to announce plans for legislation to criminalize such sales; the eBay auction site promptly banned inaugural ticket sales.

Dale Eisman, (703) 913-9872, dale.eisman@pilotonline.com