Kaine and Webb: Newsman Tim Russert influenced Virginia elections

WTOP ^ | June 14, 2008 | Bob Lewis, AP

[HokieMom]

HAMPTON, Va. (AP) - If not for "Meet The Press" and its host, Tim Russert, Jim Webb figures he may not be a United States senator.

And a debate moderated by the NBC newsman who died Friday was a turning point in Democrat Timothy M. Kaine's campaign for governor.

Both candidates fondly recalled Russert on Saturday at the Virginia Democratic Convention and acknowledged his role in pivotal moments in their 2005 and 2006 campaigns.

Webb said his September 2006 appearance alongside Republican Sen. George Allen on "Meet The Press" was the turning point in his narrow, come-from-behind victory over Allen _ not Allen's use of the word "macaca" as he pointed out a Webb aide of Indian descent at an August campaign event.

"Because of the way he conducts the show, he was able to get myself and George Allen side-by-side and ask us a whole series of penetrating questions _ hard questions for both of us," Webb said in an interview.

Within 24 hours after the nationally televised "Meet The Press" appearance, Webb said, $150,000 in unsolicited Internet contributions poured into his cash-starved campaign.

Since Webb's election, Russert brought him back onto his signature Sunday morning newsmakers forum, the longest-running show on network television, Webb said.

"I've been interviewed by hundreds and hundreds of people over the years and he was in the top three of anyone I've ever been interviewed by," Webb said.

One year earlier, Kaine's campaign got a major lift when his Republican opponent, Jerry Kilgore, stumbled badly under Russert's relentless questioning about his position on abortion.

Russert was moderator for the annual Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce debate in September 2005, and he was pressing Kilgore on whether he would sign legislation outlawing abortion if the U.S. Supreme Court struck down its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Kilgore refused a yes-or-no answer to what he called a hypothetical question.

Russert persisted, asking Kilgore what he'd do if the General Assembly approved a tax increase.

"I would veto it," Kilgore replied.

"That's a hypothetical question," Russert interjected as a crowd of about 500 business leaders broke into laughter at Kilgore's expense.

Kilgore's campaign continued to lose ground, and Kaine defeated him by about 6 percentage points.

"That debate was a political moment," said Kaine, who recalled being "star-stuck" at meeting Russert that day.

"He really went after me on some death penalty issues and then he turned to Jerry on Roe v. Wade, and as he set up his set of hypotheticals, I could kind of see where it was going," Kaine said, still recalling the moment with a laugh.

[Corin Stormhands]

oops

:-)

[johnny7]

Tim Russert died 30 minutes after eating the box of chocolates that Hillary sent...

If ever there was a revenge motive... ”The Beast” would be suspect #1. That illegal alien, drivers license question(NY/Spitzer) she botched up(debate) was the beginning of the end.

Fat Timmy drove it home like a stake into a vampire... he was relentless.

[Tom_Busch]

And it’s not even true that he was equally tough on both parties. He was good at making it look like he was equally tough, on the surface anyway, but it was easy to see through the scam

Occasionally he’d really give hell to a Democrat, but more often than not, even though he may have asked a tough question, he’d let the Dem spin away with some nonsense BS answer, without challenge. Republicans didn’t get that treatment. They were given tough followup questions instead.

That’s the way I saw it anyway.

[xrmusn]

If you really believe and of that crap about George Allen then you are incredibley (sp) naive.

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Not a question of believing GA or not—what he or his campaign did is out there.
If that is the best way he could have managed his staff and/or the press then he was in a place he didn’t belong.
Like I said, all he had to do was shut up, kiss babies and collect money.
When they tried to liken Jim Webb to John Kerry they were not only foolish, they were wrong.
Don’t forget a lot of Vets, although they didn’t like Webb transferring loyalties weren’t going to do a ‘Kerry’ on him as he didn’t deserve it.
The ‘macaca (sp)’ thing, though grossly overplayed was put out there and if GA had only said it once he may have gotten a slide, but he continually repeated it.
To use a word or phrase 3-5 times in a ‘thought’ then claim you didn’t know what you are saying is really a case of being naive.
Granted if Webb had been running as an R his USNA days and statements he made later about Women In Combat, would have crucified him but he got a pass while running as a D. If he had been running against John Warner (R-VA) I probably would have voted for Webb, but I stuck with Allen despite his shortcomings.

[P8riot]

Dave,

When are the folks in the rest of the country gonna figure out that we here in Virginia have a plan for the rest of the country, the same way that we did back in the 1770's?

[HokieMom]

Thanks for posting your insights. Very helpful.

[Corin Stormhands]

Well, like I said, I’ve known George Allen for over 20 years.

I haven’t spent nearly as much time reading the Washington Post.

[xrmusn]

Jim Webb may claim to be an honorable man—I have sincere doubts, btw—....

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As to Webb, I really lost all ‘respect’ I may have had for him when he let his aide-d-camp take the rap on that pistol charge at the Capital. Whether he was guilty or not, Webb stabbed him in the back by commenting on it the way he did.
I also think JW was a horses patoot when he ‘dissed’ W in regards to his son.....
Even Fred Reed is talking Webb for VP, if for nothing else than to bring some dignity and adult leadership to BO but I believe that would just give the Dems TWO underqualified people running for the highest office...

[BufordP]

leadpenny voted for Jim Webb. Last time LP posted was Aug 07.

[McGruff]

Russert interjected as a crowd of about 500 business leaders broke into laughter at Kilgore's expense.

Fair and Balanced. My ass!