Photo by Logan Brown

>> The Senate race in Virginia between former Gov. Tim Kaine and former Sen. George Allen is perhaps the closest of any contest in this election. But if Allen gets his old job back, what kind of policy expertise would he bring? As the Post recalls, it’s kind of mixed. Former colleagues and advisers give him high marks on things like energy and technology policy, but others say his one-term record was fairly undistinguished. And then there’s his knack for saying dumb stuff.

>> Adrian Fenty’s former driver, Keith Lomax, now runs a landscaping-turned-construction company that lands several millions of dollars’ worth of city contracts. But for all that money, Loose Lips reports there’s scant evidence of any work being done. Also, Mr. Lomax did not enjoy meeting Mr. Suderman.

>> A year ago, Greg Merson was a drug-addicted University of Maryland dropout. Today, he’s $8.5 million richer after winning the World Series of Poker earlier this week in Las Vegas. The Post’s Michael Rosenwald digs into his recovery and road to riches; Merson won on a pair of sixes with a king high card. Not exactly a Casino Royale finish, but still pretty nice.

Briefly Noted: Cause founders need a lesson in restaurant profit margins … DHS employee arrested for soliciting kids over Facebook … Maryland tells 186 voters know their online registrations got messed up … Germantown teenager dies after being struck by car while walking to school … Lots of post-Sandy muck to clean out of Southwest Waterfront.

This Day in DCist: Last year, the D.C. Council couldn’t tweet under its own name.