For Kaine, it has probably been his inconsistency about the budget, and waffling between increasing or cutting spending, and between raising taxes or keeping them the same.

Webb has never been popular in Virginia, and I can't think of anything he's done that would make him more popular to the people that didn't vote for him, or the people that voted against Allen instead of for Webb.

Still, these kinds of numbers for our two state-wide elected officials don't bode well for our future prospects.

I'm really surprised at the Kaine numbers, I wonder if the Metro-to-Dulles fiasco is another factor?

As for Webb, 2012 is still a ways off, and he can do a lot between now and then to turn things around. Not to mention the fact that the voting demographics of 2012 will be very different from today.

all know that Webb only won because of Allan's macaca moment. Webb has voted several times with the rethugs and that infuriated the base here in VA. He isn't very charismatic like John Warner and Mark Warner are. He still doesn't have his constituency services in place. He's a former rethug. He is also a one issue guy-the military issues and I'm still not sure of his stance on the war. Does he want us to get out or stay? Couldn't tell you. With our tiny majority in the senate I think he needs to stand with the dems FOR the people. I don't know what he's going to do on the FISA vote-last time he voted with the rethugs and got slammed for it here.

Not to say he isn't a good man and trying very hard. But he doesn't seem to be a Chris Dodd or Russ Feingold. He isn't a strong democrat like I'd like. He needs to get more popular and get out among the people so folks can get to know him a little and not just at political functions with Kaine and Warner.

It's not policy, it's politics.

If Jim Webb's public approval ratings were a consequence of him sometimes breaking with his party and voting with the opposition, then John Warner's numbers would be in the toilet for the same reason.

My personal opinion is that Jim Webb needs to spend less time at fundraisers for the Colorado or New Hampshire Democrats and more time meeting with Virginians.  He does really well on the talk show circuit, but we didn't elect him to be a pundit, we elected him to represent his constituents.  And if he doesn't care enough about voters to keep going to events and shaking hands and asking, "what do you think about this?" then I'm not sure the voters have an obligation to give a damn what he thinks, either.

There is more to being a Senator than being the smartest man in the room.

agree. Very well said.

poll numbers.

Such as?  I don't recall Kaine campaigning on Dulles Metro.  And Webb's basically kept all the same policy positions he had as a candidate, as far as I can tell.  Personally, I don't think the Webb shift is really statistically significant, and in the case of Kaine it seem slike it's mostly Republicans and R-leaners going back to acting like Republicans.

I occasionally write for a weekly here in C'ville (Circ. 20K+), and I have had several instances where I have called Webb's office to seek comment and I simply never heard from him again.

It doesn't bother me personally, but it suggests to me that his office seems not to care too much about what Virginian's think. I am both saddened and surprised by these numbers.

As for Kaine -- and here I'm just speculating -- the General Assembly went back into session. Before that, Kaine really had the playing field to himself.

belief on the part of many Virginians that Webb is only a one-issue guy and that he wrote some dirty books.  Neither one of these things is true, but it's something I've encountered when he comes up in conversation.  Last year I was talking to a student of mine who recently completed service with the Marine Reserves.  I mentioned Webb, and he reacted unfavorably, saying something about Webb being against the military and writing dirty books, etc., etc.  In other words, he was still carrying what he'd heard from the Allen campaign.  

I suggested that he read three books:  Fields of Fire, The Nightingale's Song, and Born Fighting, and get back to me about what he thought again.  He still hasn't gotten back to me, but what this and prior comments on RK have told me is that Webb has a very serious communication problem here in the Commonwealth.  His constituent services have not received a single word of praise in all the posts about them on this site.  Whoever is running his offices must understand that they are doing him an incredible disservice by not responding to the public the way the public expects.  As for appearances around the Commonwealth, I understand that Webb feels he must repay the favors done for him during  the election and this probably motivates a lot of his appearances outside of Virginia.  Moreover, a look at his legislative initiatives and committee participation shows he's working extremely hard.  However, if he wants to win popularity contests in Virginia he's going to have to ratchet up the Virginia appearances.  

Webb is never going to be Senator Pothole, but he can do a lot to remedy the current perceptions of his office by getting his staff to understand the extreme importance of responding to his constituency.  

It is apparent at least in my neck of the woods, which if you follow Chesterfield development to the fourth largest Virginia locality in recent years their are less and less "woods" left, Kaine is losing support from independents that I have spoken with which are increasing in ranks. I think its fine to debate whether Virginia is "purple" these days but the real focus should be on the rising trend of Virginians going independent. I rationalize that as those that would vote say for Webb in 06 and yet lean say red in the upcoming Presidential. Its a trend that is growing and in my view welcome. Looking at candidates as individuals I think is a good thing and just voting/support out of some untangible loyalty to Party which breeds more unaccountability in my book. Webb has performed better than any other junior or freshman Senator in the country hands down. We have to understand its often about entitlement or seniority in the Senate through the committee system that is frankly decaying our faith in government from within. In such a field Webb has performed quite well. I can think of no other Senator save Obama that has stood out in such a short period of time in the Senate. Lets be real, he has only been there a year. Independents supported him to election and here continue to. Kaine on the other hand appears to be losing those same folks that support Webb. Its interesting really. I think for many it is the smoking ban issue coupled with the abuser fees though not entirely his doing but is linked to a poorly contrived transportation package. Its one of those where people are exactly sure why but just are feeling less confident in him. I personally am waiting for more from Kaine with the GA before rendering an assessment but am hopeful Virginia will kove forward this session.