Clinton/Warren (D) vs. Trump/Webb (R)

[White Trash]

I'd be sorely disappointed if Jim Webb was in any way, shape, or form attached to a Trump candidacy. My admiration for Webb would break in a heartbeat and I'd still vote for Clinton.

[White Trash]

The above posters are right. The only thing Webb could add is keep Indiana and Missouri in the GOP fold. He might make in roads in Ohio and maybe even swing over Virginia, maybe. But as far as helping Trump win Michigan and Pennsylvania? That's gotta be a joke.

Webb could be something of a map-expander for the Democrats, he appeals to certain elements of the Republican base. But he is certainly not going to put Democratic states like Pennsylvania and Michigan in play for the Republicans.

[White Trash]

The above posters are right. The only thing Webb could add is keep Indiana and Missouri in the GOP fold. He might make in roads in Ohio and maybe even swing over Virginia, maybe. But as far as helping Trump win Michigan and Pennsylvania? That's gotta be a joke.

Webb could be something of a map-expander for the Democrats, he appeals to certain elements of the Republican base. But he is certainly not going to put Democratic states like Pennsylvania and Michigan in play for the Republicans.

He's a Southerner.  He could help Trump keep FL, NC, and VA.  And like you said, maybe help Trump deliver OH.  Then, all Trump would need to do is win a tiny swing state like NH or IA.

You seem to be under the impression that just because some spits out a few "y'alls" and really digs into their "r's" Southerners will be willing to disregard their entire political history and toss a vote their way. Sectionalism and regional pride hasn't really been a significant issue for a long time.

Yes, Webb would help a bit in the South. But what little he does to help isn't going to counter everything that Trump has done to hurt.

[White Trash]

The above posters are right. The only thing Webb could add is keep Indiana and Missouri in the GOP fold. He might make in roads in Ohio and maybe even swing over Virginia, maybe. But as far as helping Trump win Michigan and Pennsylvania? That's gotta be a joke.

Webb could be something of a map-expander for the Democrats, he appeals to certain elements of the Republican base. But he is certainly not going to put Democratic states like Pennsylvania and Michigan in play for the Republicans.

He's a Southerner.  He could help Trump keep FL, NC, and VA.  And like you said, maybe help Trump deliver OH.  Then, all Trump would need to do is win a tiny swing state like NH or IA.

You seem to be under the impression that just because some spits out a few "y'alls" and really digs into their "r's" Southerners will be willing to disregard their entire political history and toss a vote their way. Sectionalism and regional pride hasn't really been a significant issue for a long time.

Yes, Webb would help a bit in the South. But what little he does to help isn't going to counter everything that Trump has done to hurt.

I mean "Southerner" in a more broad sense.  I don't mean simply that he's from the same region and speaks with the same accent.  He can tap into the working class values that they used as a deciding factor in their votes, which is namely economic populism and pro-worker policies.

Sure he could. But Trump is already doing that with the economic populism and his "hard on trade" stance. Webb appeals to a group that Trump already appeals to. In fact, he may even push some away. Despite his past Republican affiliation, Webb's senate record was quite Liberal.

[White Trash]

The above posters are right. The only thing Webb could add is keep Indiana and Missouri in the GOP fold. He might make in roads in Ohio and maybe even swing over Virginia, maybe. But as far as helping Trump win Michigan and Pennsylvania? That's gotta be a joke.

Webb could be something of a map-expander for the Democrats, he appeals to certain elements of the Republican base. But he is certainly not going to put Democratic states like Pennsylvania and Michigan in play for the Republicans.

He's a Southerner.  He could help Trump keep FL, NC, and VA.  And like you said, maybe help Trump deliver OH.  Then, all Trump would need to do is win a tiny swing state like NH or IA.

You seem to be under the impression that just because some spits out a few "y'alls" and really digs into their "r's" Southerners will be willing to disregard their entire political history and toss a vote their way. Sectionalism and regional pride hasn't really been a significant issue for a long time.

Yes, Webb would help a bit in the South. But what little he does to help isn't going to counter everything that Trump has done to hurt.

I mean "Southerner" in a more broad sense.  I don't mean simply that he's from the same region and speaks with the same accent.  He can tap into the working class values that they used as a deciding factor in their votes, which is namely economic populism and pro-worker policies.

Sure he could. But Trump is already doing that with the economic populism and his "hard on trade" stance. Webb appeals to a group that Trump already appeals to. In fact, he may even push some away. Despite his past Republican affiliation, Webb's senate record was quite Liberal.

Trump voters aren't your typical voters.  They're not voting for Trump the Republican because Rush Limbaugh or James Dobson or the Club for Growth told them to.  They're staunchly independent and vote for Trump probably despite the fact that he's running as a Republican, not because of it.

The ones who tend to vote Republican on a regular basis but hopped on the Trump Train would probably like Trump's controversial pick. 

I'm aware of that, and I'm not disputing that. But Webb has some stances that don't sit too well with the working-class South. Namely on abortion. The fact that Webb ever had a "D" next to his name will actually drive even more of the conservative vote away from the ticket. While I think those polls showing Utah and Idaho being in play are baloney, I could see it becoming a reality if Trump chooses an actual, living, breathing in the flesh Democrat as his running mate.

[White Trash]

The above posters are right. The only thing Webb could add is keep Indiana and Missouri in the GOP fold. He might make in roads in Ohio and maybe even swing over Virginia, maybe. But as far as helping Trump win Michigan and Pennsylvania? That's gotta be a joke.

Webb could be something of a map-expander for the Democrats, he appeals to certain elements of the Republican base. But he is certainly not going to put Democratic states like Pennsylvania and Michigan in play for the Republicans.

He's a Southerner.  He could help Trump keep FL, NC, and VA.  And like you said, maybe help Trump deliver OH.  Then, all Trump would need to do is win a tiny swing state like NH or IA.

You seem to be under the impression that just because some spits out a few "y'alls" and really digs into their "r's" Southerners will be willing to disregard their entire political history and toss a vote their way. Sectionalism and regional pride hasn't really been a significant issue for a long time.

Yes, Webb would help a bit in the South. But what little he does to help isn't going to counter everything that Trump has done to hurt.

I mean "Southerner" in a more broad sense.  I don't mean simply that he's from the same region and speaks with the same accent.  He can tap into the working class values that they used as a deciding factor in their votes, which is namely economic populism and pro-worker policies.

Sure he could. But Trump is already doing that with the economic populism and his "hard on trade" stance. Webb appeals to a group that Trump already appeals to. In fact, he may even push some away. Despite his past Republican affiliation, Webb's senate record was quite Liberal.

Too liberal for National Review or Freedom Works?  Absolutely.

However, Webb is on average what many Southern Democrats in the 70s, 80s, and 90s were.  He was a 21st century version of Dale Bumpers, Ernest Fritz Hollings, or Lloyd Bentsen.

Sure he was more conservative than your average Democrat, but that doesn't make him conservative enough to keep the hardcore socialcons in check. A good chunk of the Republican electorate would find no place in a Trump/Webb ticket, and they would subsequently abandon it.

[White Trash]

The above posters are right. The only thing Webb could add is keep Indiana and Missouri in the GOP fold. He might make in roads in Ohio and maybe even swing over Virginia, maybe. But as far as helping Trump win Michigan and Pennsylvania? That's gotta be a joke.

Webb could be something of a map-expander for the Democrats, he appeals to certain elements of the Republican base. But he is certainly not going to put Democratic states like Pennsylvania and Michigan in play for the Republicans.

He's a Southerner.  He could help Trump keep FL, NC, and VA.  And like you said, maybe help Trump deliver OH.  Then, all Trump would need to do is win a tiny swing state like NH or IA.

You seem to be under the impression that just because some spits out a few "y'alls" and really digs into their "r's" Southerners will be willing to disregard their entire political history and toss a vote their way. Sectionalism and regional pride hasn't really been a significant issue for a long time.

Yes, Webb would help a bit in the South. But what little he does to help isn't going to counter everything that Trump has done to hurt.

I mean "Southerner" in a more broad sense.  I don't mean simply that he's from the same region and speaks with the same accent.  He can tap into the working class values that they used as a deciding factor in their votes, which is namely economic populism and pro-worker policies.

Sure he could. But Trump is already doing that with the economic populism and his "hard on trade" stance. Webb appeals to a group that Trump already appeals to. In fact, he may even push some away. Despite his past Republican affiliation, Webb's senate record was quite Liberal.

Too liberal for National Review or Freedom Works?  Absolutely.

However, Webb is on average what many Southern Democrats in the 70s, 80s, and 90s were.  He was a 21st century version of Dale Bumpers, Ernest Fritz Hollings, or Lloyd Bentsen.

Sure he was more conservative than your average Democrat, but that doesn't make him conservative enough to keep the hardcore socialcons in check. A good chunk of the Republican electorate would find no place in a Trump/Webb ticket, and they would subsequently abandon it.

That is true.  Trump has to get about 85%-90% of the #NeverTrump crowd on the Trump Train just to have a prayer of winning the general.  Picking an actual Democrat wouldn't be so wise.  I was just listing some of the benefits.

Maybe he could use Jim Webb as a campaign surrogate or something.

Heck, even a simple endorsement from Webb might help Trump a little. You're right that Webb does have a good appeal, and I think that something minor like a TV spot would be the best way to utilize it.