VA Senate Race Now Truly Competitive -NYTimes

[Frodo]

Even the mainstream media are starting to take notice:

As Senator Falters, a Democrat Rises in Virginia

By ROBIN TONER
Published: September 18, 2006

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 — From the start, the Virginia Senate race was an emblematic campaign for 2006: combat boots vs. cowboy boots, in the inevitable shorthand.

A highly decorated Vietnam veteran and former secretary of the Navy who opposed the war in Iraq (James Webb, Democrat) in an uphill battle against a paragon of sunbelt conservatism with national ambitions (Senator George Allen, Republican.)

But in the past month, ever since Mr. Allen’s demeaning reference to a young man of Indian descent at a campaign event, this race has become more than an intriguing clash of symbols; according to the polls, it is now truly competitive.

Increasingly, Democratic strategists see Virginia as a prime target for one of the six seats they need to regain a majority. Perhaps most important for Mr. Webb, whose late-starting campaign has lagged far behind Mr. Allen’s in fund-raising, the Democrat’s contributions have begun to climb, advisers say. “He’s got George Allen on the run in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Bob Kerrey, former Democratic senator from Nebraska, who was rallying donors at a reception for Mr. Webb last week in New York.

In one of the sharpest exchanges of the campaign, Mr. Webb and Mr. Allen squared off on the war in Iraq on “Meet the Press” on NBC on Sunday, with Mr. Allen defending the Bush administration’s policy and denouncing the “second-guessing and Monday-morning quarterbacking” of the critics. “We’re going to need to do what it takes to succeed,” Mr. Allen said, when asked if he would support additional troops in Iraq, “because it’s essential to the security of the United States of America.”

Mr. Webb responded: “I know what it’s like to be on the ground. I know what it’s like to fight a war like this, and either — there are limits to what the military can do. Eventually, this is going to have to move into a diplomatic environment, and that’s where this administration seems to have blinders. They are not talking to Syria, they are not talking to Iran, and there are ways that we can do this, move this forward.”

Mr. Webb also took several digs at what he called theorists in the administration and among its allies who know combat only in the abstract. Mr. Allen, like the majority of the current Congress, did not serve in the military.

In recent days, the Allen campaign, acknowledging a newly competitive race, has gone on the attack. A Mason-Dixon poll conducted this month found Mr. Allen’s lead, once in the double-digits, had shrunk, with 46 percent for Mr. Allen, 42 percent for Mr. Webb, and a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

[MarkWarner08]

Great article. What do you think of my new signature?

[Moooooo]

Great article. What do you think of my new signature?

lmao.  Did Webb really say that today?

[Eraserhead]

Good article. I still haven't watched the MTP debate but it sounds like Webb won a decisive victory.

[Frodo]

I have just contributed $100 to the Jim Webb campaign -starting in late October and early November (in short, right before the election for greatest effect), I will start volunteering primarily through leaf-letting, just as I did for the Kaine campaign a year ago.

[MarkWarner08]

Great article. What do you think of my new signature?

lmao.  Did Webb really say that today?

Yes.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Unless, there is another McCaca moment I don't see Webb pulling it off, but it will stay within the margin of error, similar to the 2000 result.

[Democratic Hawk]

I have just contributed $100 to the Jim Webb campaign -starting in late October and early November (in short, right before the election for greatest effect), I will start volunteering primarily through leaf-letting, just as I did for the Kaine campaign a year ago.

[Nym90]

I'd love to see Webb win, but I doubt he will. He'll at least keep it close, however.

Tennessee is now again the better chance for the "sixth seat", although in all honesty New Jersey might be the race that ultimately decides the control of the Senate actually.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

The republicans are still the favorite to win TN despite what the polls say, the republicans have the registration advantage and the money advantage to keep Ford away from the senate for now.

[WalterMitty]

im sure all of you democrats supported bob dole over clinton in 96.

dole was a war hero.  clinton never served.  in fact, he wrote a letter saying he 'loathed' the military.

but by all means, keep spending money in virginia.  im sure harry reid is preparing for another term as minority leader.

[Conan]

I'd love to see Webb win, but I doubt he will. He'll at least keep it close, however.

Tennessee is now again the better chance for the "sixth seat", although in all honesty New Jersey might be the race that ultimately decides the control of the Senate actually.

I wouldnt be extremely worries about NJ. Maybe moderately. Menendez will pull it off. I hope he never runs again though.

[adam]

Even if Webb loses, he is forcing Allen to spend money he wasn't expecting to. So either way, a postive will come out of this race in the long run.

[bullmoose88]

Whoa...the NY Times says its so...


It must be TRUE!!!


Good luck guys.

[DownWithTheLeft]

I'd love to see Webb win, but I doubt he will. He'll at least keep it close, however.

Tennessee is now again the better chance for the "sixth seat", although in all honesty New Jersey might be the race that ultimately decides the control of the Senate actually.

I wouldnt be extremely worries about NJ. Maybe moderately. Menendez will pull it off. I hope he never runs again though.

You keep thinking that

[Deano963]

I have just contributed $100 to the Jim Webb campaign -starting in late October and early November (in short, right before the election for greatest effect), I will start volunteering primarily through leaf-letting, just as I did for the Kaine campaign a year ago.

That's awesome Maverick. I also donated to him a couple of weeks ago. Jim Webb is the only candidate I have donated money to outside of Ohio this cycle.

I heard from DKos that donations have skyrocketed since he destroyed Allen in the MTP debate - I guess they received over $100,000 in unsolicited, internet donations alone in one day. Figure in the Stephen King and John Grisham fundraiser, the Kaine and Warner fundraisers, and the big Bill Clinotn fundraiser yet to come and I think Webb is going to have enough resources to win this thing.

[Smash255]

im sure all of you democrats supported bob dole over clinton in 96.

dole was a war hero.  clinton never served.  in fact, he wrote a letter saying he 'loathed' the military.

but by all means, keep spending money in virginia.  im sure harry reid is preparing for another term as minority leader.

The comment was made after Allen took a cheap shot at the French, so he let Webb open for that one.

[WalterMitty]

im sure all of you democrats supported bob dole over clinton in 96.

dole was a war hero.  clinton never served.  in fact, he wrote a letter saying he 'loathed' the military.

but by all means, keep spending money in virginia.  im sure harry reid is preparing for another term as minority leader.

The comment was made after Allen took a cheap shot at the French, so he let Webb open for that one.

isnt allen's mom french?

by the way, did anyone see the debate today?  what the hell was that question about to allen about his jewish ancestry?

[Smash255]

im sure all of you democrats supported bob dole over clinton in 96.

dole was a war hero.  clinton never served.  in fact, he wrote a letter saying he 'loathed' the military.

but by all means, keep spending money in virginia.  im sure harry reid is preparing for another term as minority leader.

The comment was made after Allen took a cheap shot at the French, so he let Webb open for that one.

isnt allen's mom french?

by the way, did anyone see the debate today?  what the hell was that question about to allen about his jewish ancestry?

I think so.  He still took a cheap shot at them.   Didn't see the debate today, so can't comment on that question

[poughies]

The jewish question was stupid as it cleary doesn't matter (I believe she is part jewish or something)..... but I still think that Democrats should be pumping money into Missouri and Tennessee.... Map out a road and take it.... You need Missouri (its dead even) and Tennessee (where Ford is probably up 1 or 2 points).....