My sources tell me that Harris Miller and James Webb senior advisor Dave "Mudcat" Saunders got into it big time on Sunday in Roanoke County. Yeah, it may be peaceful most of the time in those beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, but not on Sunday at the home of Steven A. McGraw, Circuit Court Clerk in the County or Roanoke. Not when Miller and "Mudcat" started going at it.It turns out that McGraw was holding a party at his house for about 46 people, at which Miller and Webb surrogate Saunders spoke briefly. Miller went first, followed by "Mudcat." Reportedly, "Mudcat" turned to Miller and said, "You're a good man, but you're unelectable in the 5th, 6th and 9th districts" against George Allen. "Mudcat" also asserted that Miller was "dividing the party" by having Claudia Kennedy come out and talk about a 30-year old article written by Webb on women in the military (note: the title of that article, "Women Can't Fight," was selected by Washingtonian magazine, not by Webb; also worth noting is that Leslie Byrne, a well-known and respected liberal woman and feminist, is backing Webb).
Well, this apparently was too much for Miller, as the room erupted into a heated, profanity-laced shouting match between "Mudcat" and him. Specifically, Miller charged that "Mudcat" had attacked him PERSONALLY. Apparently, the argument got so hot that everyone at the party was extremely uncomfortable. I called "Mudcat" last night to ask him about this story, and he confirmed it. According to "Mudcat," Miller "was one pissed-off, out-of-control dude." Mudcat also told me that he had personally apologized to Steve McGraw for his part in the argument. However, "Mudcat" didn't take back what he said about Miller's (lack of) electability or about his "dividing the party" comment.
Sounds like a fun time down in Roanoke County on Sunday. It also sounds like Miller may be a weeeeee bit sensitive on the issue of his electability, while the Webb campaign may be similarly sensitive on the issue of women in the military (even though Webb opened up more billets for women than any other Navy Secretary). Perhaps Miller's also still a bit sore from his 58%-42% loss to Webb in the Gerry Connolly Saint Patrick's Day Straw Poll this past Friday? Maybe, maybe not, but it's certainly hard to see how telling someone they can't win an election in three specific Congressional Districts is a "personal attack." To me, a "personal attack" is when you question someone's intelligence or claim they're a pedophile or something, not when you give your unvarnished political analysis. If that's true, then anyone who argues Hillary Clinton's unelectable is "personally attacking" her. So be careful who you call "unlectable," especially at parties where Harris Miller is in attendance. Ha.
P.S. I've been trying all morning to get a comment from the Miller camp, but so far I've had about as much success as I've had recruiting a Miller supporter to come on here and blog. One month and counting...