Jim Webb Wins Democratic VA-Sen Primary

[Capulet]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060614...446QVayFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

Webb wins Senate primary race in Va.

By BOB LEWIS, Associated Press Writer 5 minutes ago

RICHMOND, Va. - James Webb, a former Reagan administration Navy secretary who left the Republican Party over the
Iraq war, won the Democratic nomination Tuesday to take on GOP Sen. George Allen (news, bio, voting record) in the fall.
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Webb defeated lobbyist and longtime Democratic Party activist Harris Miller after a bruising primary in which voters decided between a traditional and unabashed liberal (Miller) and a former Republican (Webb) whose populist campaign was aimed at so-called Reagan Democrats — namely, rural, white moderates.

With 87 percent of precincts reporting, Webb had 73,031 votes, or 54 percent, compared with 61,566 votes, or 46 percent, for Miller. Except for the Washington suburbs, turnout was paltry across Virginia, a state unaccustomed to primaries. The last Democratic Senate primary was in 1994.

Allen is seeking a second term and also pursuing a 2008 bid for president. He had no GOP challenger.

Four other states also held elections Tuesday, including primaries for governor in Maine and South Carolina; a Democratic runoff for the nomination for lieutenant governor in Arkansas; and referendums on constitutional amendments in North Dakota.

In Virginia, both Democratic candidates sought to tie Allen tightly to Bush, particularly over Iraq. But Webb was seen by some as having particular credibility on military issues because of his background as a decorated Marine lieutenant in Vietnam and later Navy secretary. Webb underscored the point by campaigning in desert combat boots.

Webb, 60, referred to Miller in a televised debate as "the anti-Christ of outsourcing," claiming that Miller, as a lobbyist for a major Internet-industry organization, helped drive technology jobs overseas. Also, a Webb flier contained a caricature of Miller with a hooked nose and cash spilling from his pockets. Miller, who is Jewish, called the brochure "despicable"; Webb said it was not anti-Semitic.

Webb, who endorsed Allen six years ago, said support from senior Senate Democrats was important to his victory.

"Everywhere I went, I had to face a room where people wondered if I really was a Democrat," Webb said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

Miller put nearly $1 million of his own money into the campaign and outspent Webb by more than a 2-to-1 ratio.

Webb is the best candidate to face George Allen in the fall. He actually has a pretty good chance of winning. He is a former Navy Secretary, having served in the Reagan Administration. He endorsed George Bush and George Allen in 2000, and he refused to shake John Kerry's hand for 30 years because of his protests against the Vietnam War. Despite that, John Kerry and other national leaders endorsed Webb.

This is also a big victory for the Democratic "Blogopshere," who were to support Webb's bid. They supported him before anyone else.

This is now a top-tier race, and George Allen's presidential ambitions may be defeated by Jim Webb come November.

Larry Sabato says:

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/062006/06042006/196289

"As you look at the two candidates, Democrats are going to have to decide what's more important to them. Do they want someone who is a reliable Democrat with whom they agree on virtually every issue, or are they willing to make some compromises in order to be more competitive with George Allen in November?" Sabato said. "If they decide the former, Harris Miller is the nominee. If they decide the latter, Jim Webb is the nominee."

Sabato said Allen doesn't want to run against Webb.

"Allen fears Webb. And he ought to," Sabato said. "Webb has some conservative positions and a conservative background in some ways, but he is staunchly anti-Iraq war. He's got military and intellectual credentials that make George Allen wilt."

 

[Red Door]

I got many calls from John Kerry supporting Jim Webb! Seriously.

Also, I got calls from Mark Warner.

 

[Cuivienen]

I'd be great if Webb managed to unseat George Allen (and I love the "Have You Seen My Senator?" ad campaign), but I am skeptical. The Democrats can win five seats in the Senate (PA, MT, OH, MO and RI, in order of likelihood), but I think winning control is too much to ask. Jack Carter in NV and Jim Webb in VA are coming from too far behind. They'll probably pull off Busby or Hackett-like "moral victories", but winning is unlikely.

 

[tomsnowman123]

Well, in most cases I would rather see a Democrat instead of a Republican, but none of these guys share my political views.

And I hate simple Democrat and Republican categorizing.

 

[Capulet]

I'd be great if Webb managed to unseat George Allen (and I love the "Have You Seen My Senator?" ad campaign), but I am skeptical. The Democrats can win five seats in the Senate (PA, MT, OH, MO and RI, in order of likelihood), but I think winning control is too much to ask.

We need 6 seats to gain control - where do we find that sixth seat? TN or VA.

Harold Ford Jr. is looking very competitive:

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1125

In prospective tests pitting Democrat Harold Ford Jr., a popular Democratic congressman, against three Republican rivals, Ford is running competitive races. Ford is dead even in a head-to-head race with former Congressman Ed Bryant, with each taking 42% of the vote in a potential match-up. Against former Congressman Van Hilleary, Ford trails by a narrow two-point margin, 43% to 41%. Former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker leads Ford by the largest margin, 46% to 42%.

 

[Cuivienen]

We need 6 seats to gain control - where do we find that sixth seat? TN or VA.

Harold Ford Jr. is looking very competitive:

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1125

And which Republican is leading the Republican primary? Corker, the one Ford does worst against. Now, I really don't mean to sound pessimistic (and I forgot about Tennessee above), but I don't think Ford stands a chance in there. He'll sweep the Memphis area by a huge margin and perform dismally everywhere else. It isn't enough to win, and Tennessee is a different kind of heavily red state from Montana, where politics really is local.