OK, it looks like I've got about as many votes as I'm going to get on my poll, "Who Should the Democrats Run for US Senate [in Virginia]" this year. In total, 253 people cast votes over the past two weeks (counting the 21 votes from the first poll that had technical difficulties). Of those, 157 (62%) voted for Webb, 41 (16%) for Miller, and 55 (22%) for "other." In other words, an overwhelming victory for James Webb in this, admittedly, unscientific little poll. Still, I think it's revealing, as are the comments. Here are a few samples:*"Our nation cries out for men of courage and conviction to lead us from the darkness that is the Bush-Cheney era. I strongly encourage all to encourage Jim Webb to step forward and take on one of the Bush-Cheney gang's consistent parrots, George Allen. Virginia and our great nation deserves better than the craven rants of a failed governor who ascended to the Senate with the vigorous assistance of Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and their ilk."
*"Before people offer their opinions, they should visit James Webb's site. Dig a little below the surface. The guy is thoroughly disenchanted with the Republicans....He is the only candidate capable of beating George Allen. I will do anything to help Jim Webb."
*I agree James Webb is a very attractive and very electable candidate to run against Allen...Webb will not be manipulated by any political machine, and will say and do exactly what he thinks is right. He doesn't need this, but we need him, unless we want to concede Allen is unbeatable."
*"Mr. Webb should he decide to run would in fact have an enormously positive effect on the (state & national) Democratic Party simply because he's a man a High Ideals and Principal, unlike the majority of the Careerist politicians on the current Political Scene. The Democrats are missing the boat on being the REFORM PARTY because they have no able Captains .... at present. Perhaps that will change should Mr. Webb decide to enter the Political arena."
The best comment about Harris Miller was probably this one:
*"Harris Miller is running, wants to win, and needs our support. Let's stop having wet dreams about Reagan's Secretary of the Navy and give a serious candidate the attention he deserves."
Oh well, too late for several of us on the "wet dreams." Ha.
In the "other" category, people mentioned Don Beyer, John Grisham, Leslie Byrne, Lynda Robb, Ben Affleck (I think this suggestion was a joke, or at least I hope it was!), and of course Mark Warner. However, there's only one problem: none of those people have expressed interest in running, none are gearing up to run, and none are going to run. Which leaves Harris Miller, who is likely to announce this week, and James Webb, who hopefully will decide in the next week or two.
Based on the Raising Kaine poll (and again, we are well aware that it's not scientific) and comments, not to mention the huge response over at Draft James Webb (over 500 people have signed the petition so far in one slow week in the dead of winter), Webb could be an extremely popular candidate (and, in my view, successful) for the Democrats against "Cowboy George" Allen. If Webb decides NOT to run, I'm sure that Harris Miller will take it to Allen as well, but as of this moment, support for Miller - a smart and talented guy, by the way - appears to be extremely thin among everyone but Democratic Party insiders. That's why I say Draft James Webb and send George Allen packing!