George Allen ping.
Posted on 05/10/2006 8:14:35 AM PDT by areafiftyone
When is a Senate race more than just a Senate race? When Democrats think they can score a trifecta by beating a Republican incumbent in the South, hobbling him as a possible presidential candidate and boosting the fortunes of one of their White House wannabes. That's the weighty challenge for novice politician Jim Webb, a decorated Vietnam vet and a senior Pentagon official under Ronald Reagan who is challenging Republican Senator George Allen in Virginia.
Webb still has to get through the June 13 Democratic primary, but pragmatists in his party are already tipping him as the man to win in November against the folksy Allen, who is also mulling a run for President in 2008. Allen's continued support for the war in Iraq and for President Bush has hurt his approval ratings, while Webb, a former Marine and an early, articulate critic of the war, has seen his numbers rise. University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato says both score about 40% in polls. "Jim Webb is George Allen's worst nightmare: a war hero and a Reagan appointee who holds moderate positions," says Sabato. "Allen tries to project a Reagan aura, but Webb already has it."
Webb has drawn a diverse crowd of supporters. Conservative columnist George F. Will has written an approving article about him, three retired generals have endorsed him, and he has raised thousands of dollars from Hollywood for his campaign. He also seems to have the backing of former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, a moderate Democrat who will probably run for President in 2008. Warner, who initially encouraged businessman Harris Miller to run, has said he will stay neutral before the primary. But he may be changing his bet: he makes his first public appearance with Webb this week, at a fund raiser in Arlington, Va.
Virginia is an open primary - anyone can vote. Republicans can make sure Webb doesn't even get the nomination by going to the polls on June 13 and voting for Harris Miller.
There are those that don't like this tactic, but it is legal.
Webb has been pretty harsh and is sounding a bit like the guy who ran in OH - the Iraq War vet. I am not sure he is the threat that Time is making him out to be - but he is a stronge candidate.
It's not a sure thing, but it's Allen's race to lose. He's in the driver's seat right now. The problem is that Virginia's been steadily drifting more back to the left the past few years as yet more votes fill the DC suburbs and the Tidewater area. Those two big urban/suburban areas are dragging the state ever-leftward, especially northern Virginia.
I don't think Webb can win, but then again, I didn't think Tim "The Eyebrows" Kaine would win either, and he did.
}:-)4
I was considering urging GOPers to vote for Miller in the Dem primary as a two-fer -- protest the lack of party registration in VA AND kick the national Dems in the teeth who are getting behind Webb.
I am surprised this primary/race isn't getting more attention - in any venue. It will be huge if Allen gets beat - so the speculation should be running wild.
All Conservatives and Freepers should vote for the weaker Democrat - Miller in the June Democrat primary.
If that were true, Bush would not have increased his margins in the state from 2000 to 2004.
That should tell you something. :-)
Poltical types were pretty far and few between at the Eastern Shore Seafood Fest last week, which is kind of nice in a way........however Miller did have some folks there mingling.
My husband, bless his heart, kept his mouth shut when I assured the nice young lady that Miller had my vote in the June primary. After they walked away he looked at me like I had 3 heads and asked "Would you care to fill me in here, what about George Allen, I thought you were all gung ho for him?"
So I reminded him that this is Virginia, not Delaware, and we can vote in any primary we wish, that of course I hadn't switched from Allen, we just don't Webb winning the primary. He just shook his head and said something about the reason he doesn't grumble so much about all th time I spend paying attention to these things, is because it means he doesn't have to yet can sound like he knows what he's talking about!!!!!
Allen ping!
Good idea to vote for Webb's adversary!
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