Va. gov gets on-air call from Obama

RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine got a string of celebrity calls Tuesday to his radio show, headlined by Barry from D.C., better known as President Barack Obama.

The president told Kaine he had questions about the traffic in Northern Virginia, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. But he decided not to press the issue, at least live on air on WTOP, Washington.

"But rather than go there, I just wanted to say how proud we are of you as governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and just wish you and the family all the best this Christmas season after just a terrific round of service for the people of Virginia," Obama said.

Kaine, a Democrat, leaves office in January.

Kaine also got calls from a former governor, Linwood Holton, who happens to be his father-in-law and Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell, who identified himself as Bob from Virginia and wanted to know if Kaine had found him any more money.

Then there was Martin from Annapolis, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, and Gerry from Fairfax, U.S. Rep. Gerald Connelly, D-Va.

As a break from politicians, Grammy-winning pop musician Bruce Hornsby called to thank Kaine for supporting a ban on smoking in restaurants and bars in Virginia.