The question remains.  What will Mark Warner do?

I have faith in Mark Warner.  I hope you do too.

Saying that Warner is "unfair to veterans" is completely unfair on your part.  This should come as no suprise, since Miller is not only Warner's friend, but was also the first person to officially jump in this thing.  This event was probably in the works before Webb even officially joined.

Personally, while I see Webb having the better chances of beating Allen, I have a great deal of respect for both Webb and Miller and would be happy to have either one represent our state.

Oh I do.  You just shouldn't have come out so strong on the guy there :)

Mr. Chernila,

Sir, your comment is foolish.

I am a veteran.  Infact, I served as an enlisted Navy Hospital Corpsman with the Navy and Marines.  After the Navy sent me to college, I was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy.  Additionally, I am a disabled veteran for injuries received while on active duty.  I believe I know a thing or two about military service, service member concerns, and veteran advocacy.

I am a Harris Miller supporter.  I know Harris, and I believe he will be an outstanding Senator for this country, our commonwealth, and our party.  I have been active in national and virginia campaigns for the Democratic Party since 1986, and therefore feel very comfortable with supporting and contributing to Harris' campaign. 

I'm glad Mark Warner is keeping his promise to help his long-time friend, Harris Miller.  I look forward to personally thanking Governor Warner for helping Harris. 

Comments like yours are wreckless.  You must have never served in uniform.  And you come off like a Republican spin machine.

When you picked an anti-establishment candidate, did you really expect the establishment to back him?

At least when I supported Howard Dean, it was the shock of my life when Al Gore endorsed him. I wasn't sure I wanted Dean to get that endorsement.

You guys make me think of the Dean campaign a lot. I'll have to write about that.

I'm sure Warner will also host a fundraiser for Webb.  I think he supported Miller when Miller was the only candidate--but now that whole situation has changed.  And I honestly don't think Miller would have the slightest chance of beating Allen, as fine a person as Miller may be.

Reggie:  I did a rather rancid job of rebutting another blogger.  The fault is mine.

JC:  I agree.  I think the Webb Campaign should definately ask Warner.  I think he'll make it happen.

Dem itv:  Give the guy a fair chance to be heard.  Then make up your own mind.

Bill:  I appreciate and honor all of your service, to your country and to the Democratic party.  I appreciate your respect for Harris Miller.  I respect him too, although I strongly disagree with him on a number of issues, question his viability in the General election statewide.

I will however, have to respectfully disagree with you.  I believe that in the absence of an endorsement, Mark Warner would best serve the Democratic party by attending a fundraiser for James Webb, then stepping back to let Democratic Primary voters decide.

John:  duly noted.

Adam:  I hope that's a good thing.  We'll have to let the Webb campaign unfold for itself.  I think this will be unlike Dean or any other campaign.

Jim: I don't think a petition is necessary, I just think the Webb Campaign needs to ask Warner.

Summer:  I agree.

Cheap shot entry.  With this kind of netroots supporters, I would think twice before I would do a fundraiser for Webb. 

Why even ask the question "Is Mark Warner unfair to veterans.?"

You put Qualls quote up yourself:

"Harris is a longtime friend of the governor's and he promised to help with a fundraiser before Jim Webb got in the race," Qualls said. "It should not be considered a formal endorsement."

Warner promised BEFORE Webb got in.  Hence no slight at all to Webb. If you want a fundraiser with Warner, ask him - quit postulating hypothetical negatives.

This is the kind of overboard netroots activism that loses more support than it gains.  Warner has done a lot for this state and made it a better place to be a Democrat.  Just ask Gov. Kaine and the new Delegates and Senator.

BTW - I am not a supporter of Webb or Miller right now as I have not met them both.

Here's a question, why do self-proclaimed progressives, opponents of the War in Iraq, etc, etc. get all ga-ga for a man in uniform when he stands up and says he's a dem?  Do you really think there's something inherantly worthier about a military background?

My big fear is that people drool over the guy because they think he'll appeal to rural republicans.  Why?  Because he wore a uniform?  Give me a break, you don't need to be GI Joe to win in Virginia.  Tim Kaine wasn't and we won places like Winchester, Stauton, Convington, and Lynchburg.

As I see it, no one knew anything about James Webb except that he was a high ranking veteran opposed to the war.  That's it.  One-note Johnny.  No one can articulate anything else about the guy except his war record.

Well, that's nice, and I'd shake his hand for that service, but that's no reason to vote for him.  And certainly no reason for progessives to go head-over-heels in love with the guy.

anti:

This battle will be won based on the potential for a return to American Greatness that James Webb's candidacy provides, for the Democrats, for Virginia, and for the Nation, not by harshing on Harris Miller.

That being said, I can't argue against a single point you've made.

Easy there, folks.

Take a deep breath.

In less than a week, this entire "building the core" period of the Webb campaign will be over.  Hang in there and get ready to rumble.

Josh:  I've been "ready to rumble" for a couple months now.  Let's do it!

Sam: I would argue that it's strongly in Mark Warner's own self-interest to support James Webb.  But that's for him to decide, obviously.  Regardless, I'm a big fan of Warner's and will continue to be.  I just hope and expect to see Warner campaigning hard for James Webb during the summer and fall, and celebrating the defeat of George Allen on November 7 with the Senator-elect.

Why should Warner campaign for both candidates?  If he supports one of them, he has every right to raise as much cash for them as he wants.

Sam:
Let's say Warner endorses Miller in the primary.  Fine.  But what if Webb then wins the primary?  Warner has been weakend.  But what if Miller then won the primary?  When Miller loses to Allen (nothing personal against Miller, but I think he has no shot at winning), people will turn against Warner for not letting Webb try.  If Warner endorses anybody, it's a lose-lose situation.  However, if he endorses both candidates, he positions himself as the benefactor of the entire Democratic Party.

Ive been reading these blogs with some amusement.  I do not know Webb or Miller, and am not sure who I will vote for.

But it seems painfully obvious that Webb will have little, if any help from the party establishment.  I say good!

It would be different if Webb suppported Kerry in 2004 and made campaign stops around the state.  Heck, I'd be for Webb in a second!

It would also be different if Webb supported Kaine in 2005 and made campaign stops...

The fact of the matter is that Webb has no political experience what-so-ever.  Just that fact alone should warrant concern.  I know, Webb has hired a great staff.  But Webb cannot bring his staff with him up to the podium every time there is a need to speak to the press or the public.

I truly salute all of your efforts to draft someone that you believe will be a great candidate to beat Allen.  However, I am critical of your efforts to get this candidate for the wrong reasons--just because Webb may beat Allen does not mean that he will be the best democrat for the party and this state. 

Many of you say that Miller may not be the best candidate.  However, it seems that Warner and the majority of the Virginia democratic leadership think otherwise. 

My bet is that Warner will help out Miller publicly this once, and then step back to see who wins the primary.

My other bet is that the democratic leadership will step back and see if Webb will sink or swim.  Do you blame them?  You shouldn't.  Webb has not done anything to be a real democrat, except merely file with the FEC as a democrat. 

The one fact alone that he endorsed Allen in 2000 raises serious decision makink skills.  Allen is a complete failure as our Senator, and Webb has a political resume bullet that ties him to this awful Senator. 

From what I have read throughout the week, I agree that many of you are more "in love" with the idea of Webb as a candidate without really knowing Webb, and truly understanding the potential consequences of a Reagan-era appointee becoming oun next democratic nominee for Senate. 

But we will see.  Will Webb sink or swim?  Will he explain why he endorsed Allen in 2000, then switched political parties two weeks ago, and is now running as a democrat in order to beat Allen?  Will enough democrats believe Webb's answers and rationales to support him over Miller?