Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell continues to accumulate support from transportation and business groups around the state for his $4 billion transportation funding plan, even while he is having trouble winning over legislators.

The governor’s office on Wednesday announced seven additional groups backing the plan, including AAA Mid-Atlantic, the Virginia Auto Dealers Association and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors.

The groups join 36 others, including Northern Virginia Chambers of Commerce and other transportation groups, that the governor is touting as supporters of the plan, which would rely heavily on borrowed money.

McDonnell is pushing hard on the issue, emphasizing that with low interest rates and competitive bids, there's no time like the present to put money into Virginia's depleted road system. He has run into roadblocks, though, with some state legislators wary of the emphasis the plan places on borrowed money.

Senate Finance Committee Charles Colgan, D-Prince William — a key Democrat in the General Assembly's upper chamber — did say that he’s “inclined to support” the governor’s plan to use $2.9 billion in bonds as part of the package.