Click here to watch "Energy Plan."

The race to replace retiring Virginia Sen. John Warner (R) is threatening to turn into a landslide for Mark Warner. Warner, who is not related to the current officeholder, boasts a vast cash advantage over Republican Jim Gilmore in a battle of former governors; the Democrat this week reported $5.1 million in cash on hand, compared with Gilmore’s $117,000. Warner is also dominating Gilmore in early polling; RealClearPolitics.com shows him up by an average of 27 points.

Warner tapped into his funds for his second ad blitz of the general election on Tuesday. His new TV spot, "Energy Plan" (subscription), lays out a multifaceted approach to reducing gasoline prices. The candidate presents America's reliance on foreign oil as a security threat as well as an energy problem, pointing out that "America [is] spending over $1 billion a day on oil from countries who don’t like us." And he chastises a government that "does nothing" while gasoline is “headed to $5 a gallon."

Warner tells viewers that "we need a real plan to end our dependence on foreign oil and give Virginians a break at the pump." Like many other Democrats, Warner supports expanded use of wind, solar and other alternative energy sources, as well as "crack[ing] down on speculators who drive up oil prices." But unlike many of his potential colleagues on the Hill, he also professes openness to increased offshore drilling.

That claim has been the object of derision from the Gilmore camp, which on Tuesday accused Warner of lying to Virginians. "Warner is on the record repeatedly opposing efforts to increase U.S. oil production by drilling in ANWR in Alaska and drilling for oil offshore," a campaign press release charges. Gilmore spokeswoman Ana Gamonal added, “When you look at Warner’s disdain for the truth, it makes you think that you are watching the Jim Carrey movie 'Liar, Liar.'"

Warner did veto a bill as governor in 2005 that called for lifting the state's ban on offshore drilling. But his campaign says it was the wording of the legislation that Warner opposed, not drilling itself. He does, however, remain opposed to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Gilmore has yet to release an ad, but his campaign is showing no alarm. "We've got enough money to deliver our message when the voters are listening, and that really isn't … until October," Gilmore strategist M. Boyd Marcus told the Washington Post.

One obstacle to that plan might be the fierce presidential battle expected in Virginia between Barack Obama and John McCain. They’re already running ads in the commonwealth, and if the deluge increases, downballot races could be drowned out.

The Virginia Democratic Party also holds a substantial fundraising lead over the state GOP, meaning Gilmore may be getting little help. And, in perhaps the most foreboding sign for Gilmore's campaign, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has so far refused to pledge any money.

Warner and Gilmore are set to square off in their first debate Saturday at The Homestead resort in the Western part of the state.