Jim Webb...I don't want to jinx it...but...

[SaveElmer]

I have always been pretty dubious that Allen could be beaten...my hope with Webb is that he would bloody him up enough to knock him out of any Presidential ambition he might have...

But I have to say, Jim Webb has really hit his stride here...and aided by Allen's enormous gaffes, I am starting to get the feeling that maybe we can actually knock this bozo off.

Jim Webb has been very impressive thus far...a bit of a slow start, but has really caught fire!

[Captain Hilts]

1. His, "I fought in Vietnam, you didn't. Even the French fought in Vietnam"

has made the whole campaign worth it.

Priceless.

[LynneSin]

2. I'm seeing people like Webb and Casey giving plenty of room...

for their opponent to bring their their re-election campaign. I know that Casey hasn't been the most vocal person in the campaign but this strategy is starting to work. In one month, Casey actually GAINED 6pts in the polls and much of it was due to Santorum basically shooting himself in the foot.

And I saw the piece on KO last night about Webb and the report he wrote 27 years ago about women shouldn't be in the military. I think Webb handled that like a pro - he admitted it and recognized that back then perhaps he was going with the current beliefs for that time. He even said if he would rewrite it again he would definately reverse that opinion. Clean, consise and all wrapped up nicely so you couldn't make an issue out of it.

Consider the comments that Allen made some 30 years ago. Allen would have been smarter to acknowledge his poor choice of words used during that time - I mean he was going to a school that was in the south and in the 70s even I can attest that people used the *N* word like it was something normal. I think Allen would have looked better to admit to the comments and blame it on the culture of that time, add some regrets to the choices he made back then. But instead he denies and now more people are coming out about he racist comments and it's just making Allen looked stupid.

[SaveElmer]

3. I agree with all that...and

Webb himself as a campaigner has made great strides...he is bringing in some heavy hitters to help him...

He is campaigning in rural Virginia where Democrats rarely do. His campaign is setting up booths at gun and relic shows...

And his ads thus far have been top notch!!!

He needs more money, which I think is beginning to flow!

[LynneSin]

5. I think one of the keys to Ed Rendell winning governor in 2002

was the fact that he made it a point to visit all 67 counties in the state. The guy already had an overwhelming fan base in Philadelphia and the surrounding county but for the primaries he was running against, ironically, Bob Casey Jr, someone who already had very widespread popularity. (Caseys are tenacious - his dad ran 4 times for governor until he finally won). My mother was suprised when they were attending a small county fair in NC Pennsylvania and Ed Rendell appeared - this was a republican stronghold.

Just like Dean's strategy is to be campaigning in all 50 states, our candidates should use the same strategy winning within their state - every county should be visited!

[DinahMoeHum]

8. The rural Virginia campaign is due to Jarding and Saunders

advising Webb (Steve Jarding and Dave "Mudcat" Saunders - authors of Foxes in the Henhouse)
www.foxesinthehenhouse.com

(snip)
Like a newly discovered treasure map offering a path to buried riches, Foxes in the Henhouse is a hard-hitting political blueprint for how the Democrats can win again in the South and rural America. The authors document the Republicans' rise in the South and Midwest, expose the hypocrisy that marked their ascent, and offer a take-no-prisoners plan to kick them out.

In addition to exposing the lies behind the gradual Republican invasion of the hinterland that began in the 1960s, they offer some surprisingly simple strategies for Democrats to capture each of these issues. Among other things, Jarding and Saunders urge Democrats to

1) Quit turning their noses up at the culture of rural America and talk to people where they live
2) Learn how to count when going after votes
3) Show some passion and retaliate when Republicans assassinate their characters

Packed with meticulous and shocking research findings; blunt, laugh-out-loud language; and merciless assaults on George W. Bush, Tom DeLay, Bill O'Reilly, and plenty of other right-wing charlatans, Foxes in the Henhouse is a must-read and will be one of the most talked-about books of the year and for election cycles to come
(snip)

:kick:

This is the same duo that advised on Mark Warner's successful campaign for VA Governor.

Webb has played it smart on not relying on DC Beltway consultants.

:kick:

[John Gauger]

4. Don't worry about jinxing it

that's bullshit. This morning CNN said that Webb is looking good in what used to be a safe state. Now I really don't know if I can trust CNN, but I guess it could be true.

[npincus]

6. IF Allen wins, he is seriously DAMAGED GOODS

and not helpful to Repugs as a reputed white supremacist Senator.

[underpants]

7. Webb isn't even running ads here yet

and he is well within striking range of Allen without them.

[Imagevision]

9. Allen is exposed for the racist he is, - gotta put your foot down this!