U.S. Senate race in Va. draws punches [Wesley Clark endorses Webb]

dailypress ^ | March 30, 2006 | DAVID LERMAN

[ncountylee]

WASHINGTON -- Hoping to fuel his upstart campaign against Republican Sen. George Allen, former Navy Secretary James Webb picked up an endorsement Wednesday from former Democratic presidential contender Gen. Wesley Clark and sought to explain his past straying from the Democratic Party.

Webb, who will face off in a June primary against Fairfax businessman and former lobbyist Harris Miller, is a Democrat and Vietnam veteran who flirted with Republicans since serving as President Ronald Reagan's Navy secretary.

In a decision that could haunt his efforts to win the Democratic Party nomination this spring, Webb endorsed Allen for the Senate in 2000 over Sen. Charles Robb, the Democratic incumbent at the time.

"I made a mistake," Webb told reporters Wednesday.

Webb, an early and vocal critic of the Iraq war, said he regretted his decision to back Allen in the fall of 2002, after spending an hour with Allen trying to explain why an invasion of Iraq would be a blunder. Allen backed the war.

"That was the moment I decided not to support George Allen," Webb said, offering his most detailed explanation to date of his shifting party loyalties.

[Gay State Conservative]

Webb endorsed Allen for the Senate in 2000 over Sen. Charles Robb, the Democratic incumbent at the time. "I made a mistake," Webb told reporters Wednesday.

Note to Mr Webb:

At least two of the "mistakes" you've made in your career are ones that the movers and shakers at DNC Headquarters will never,*ever* forgive.

[jazusamo]

An endorsement by General Clark is not something to be too thrilled about. He was relieved of command even though he claims he was only asked to retire early. The parsing of those words don't speak well for him no matter what the circumstances of his early exit.

[OldFriend]

LOL....after listening to Weasley Clark yesterday it's hard to imagine anyone less credible. Webb and Clark may well be perfect together. Idiots conjoined!

[MNJohnnie]

Gee talk about a "Get OFF my side" moment for Webb.

[rod1]

Wesley Clark provides his usual kiss of death endorsement.

[armydawg1]

Former military running as Democrats have a self hate complex.

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

Richard Wadhams, a veteran Republican campaign operative who helped oust former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle in 2004, said Wednesday he will step down temporarily as Allen's chief of staff on April 10 to run his Senate re-election campaign.

Wadhams is big time. He helped Wayne Allard beat Tom Strickland in Colorado in 1996 and 2002, got Conrad Burns to victory in 2000, and helped Thune give Tommy Daschle the boot in 2004.