On a three-day junket to Washington, D.C., to lobby for recovery money, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was spotted Wednesday evening at the posh downtown bistro, The Caucus Room, along with a flock of Republican notables, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Fred Thompson, the 2008 GOP presidential also-ran and former headliner of TV's Law and Order. Also keeping reservations last night at the white-tablecloth eatery were former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, who served eight years in President Bush's cabinet before becoming a fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, and singer, songwriter and producer John Rich.