Ben Tribbett and J.C. Wilmore each have very revealing stories this morning about how badly George "California Cowboy" Allen is terrified of James Webb (photo at left courtesy of J.C.). According to Ben:
This weekend, James Webb was the "Grand Marshall" of a parade in Fredericksburg. Allen's campaign told me they sent "almost 40 volunteers" to mob the five block parade with Allen signs.Webb's campaign called the group "around a dozen" and said they responded to those shouting at Webb with "Where is George- Iowa or New Hampshire?"
The Allen campaign wanted to send a message that they are alive and well, and indeed they did. But they also sent a message of what they fear in November.
According to J.C.:
...a handful of George Allen's supporters mounted a tiny demonstration at the very end of the parade (actually they weren't even on the parade route, they were on a side street). These George Allen supporters showed that they know who the Democratic challenger in this race is, even if some Democrats haven't figured it out yet.The simple fact of the matter is that Jim Webb terrifies George Allen's supporters (and George Allen too, I imagine). Allen and his supporters were expecting an easy walkover campaign that would set Allen up for a run at the White House. Now they are beginning to realize that they are facing a "no-holds-barred" slugfest with someone who has proven time and again that he is much tougher than George Allen could ever hope to be.
Also, we have this comment by "tooconservative" ("Miller for Senate...so allen can win!") and this one as well ("Why do liberals like Webb so much? He?s SO conservatiev"). Then there's this comment by Virginia Centrist ("Ha! Kilo is Harris Miller's biggest supporter. I wonder why?"). Finally, Chad says, "It appears that James Webb is volunteering to lose his first campaign on behalf of the Democrats." You think that Allen supporters are hoping and praying that James Webb loses the Democratic primary contest or what?
Meanwhile, what about Webb's opponent for that nomination, Harris Miller? According to JC, "there was no Miller presence at all" at the Fredericksburg parade. And I hear rumors that several politicians who endorsed Miller in December and January are having second thoughts now, especially after Webb's 58%-42% victory at the Connolly straw poll this past Friday. Verrrrry interesting.
[UPDATE: From a Webb supporter at the Frederickburg parade: "afterwards I was getting petition signatures and a Lady signer said ... you know I shouldn't be signing this because I do a lot for the George Allen campaign ... But Jim Webb is such a Good Guy .... and she signed away." No wonder Allen is terrified.]