Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post has a fascinating article at his "The Fix" blog on the Virginia Senate race ("Democrat Webb Courts the Netroots"). Here's an excerpt:
Jim Webb's Senate candidacy got its start on the Internet, and ever since the former Secretary of the Navy formally entered the Virginia Senate race his campaign has assiduously courted the liberal blogosphere.The latest evidence? Webb's endorsement from retired Gen. Wesley Clark this morning. Clark was the subject of an extended online draft movement aimed at convincing him to run for president in 2004. Clark eventually heeded the call and, despite his disappointing candidacy, has retained a large and dedicated following on the Web...
[...]
Other examples of the Webb campaign's courting of the liberal blogosphere include a posting on Daily Kos by former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey, himself a Vietnam veteran.
[...]
The Kerrey post, which was published yesterday, had generated 218 comments by Wednesday afternoon
The question is, can the "liberal blogosphere" actually help propel a candidate to victory? So far, it's arguably come close (Paul Hackett) but no cigar. However, Cillizza feels that Webb "could well deliver them their first victory if he defeats former technology lobbyist Harris Miller (D) in the June Democratic primary." Chris, my good man, I think you very well could be onto something here! :)
Meanwhile, Cillizza points out, Miller - ironically, since he's supposedly the "high tech" guy - is running a traditional, "I'm the REAL Democrat" campaign. Yawwwwwwn. Miller's also going negative early and often. Today, for instance, Miller actually went after Wesley Clark (!), asking "whether Clark agreed with Webb's statement in 2000 that Clinton 'ran the most corrupt administration in modern memory.'" Wow, can we say "jump the shark?" C'mon now, Harris Miller attacking 4-star General Wesley Clark? As we say in internet lingo, I'm ROFLMAO! I'll tell you, they really have some brilliant strategists running the Miller campaign. Ha.
P.S. Miller also dredges up more old Webb quotes about Clinton and women in the military (including, for the zillionth time, the Washingtonian article from 1979). How pitiful. Negative, negative, negative. Whatever happened to all that "shorter and poorer version of Mark Warner" malarky Miller was spouting? Seems to me that Warner is the "forward together" guy, not the "tear apart your Democratic opponent" guy. Apparently, Miller will say ANYTHING to get elected. Meanwhile, Webb stays positive and doesn't go around bashing Miller. Can we say "no class" vs. "class?"
P.P.S. Miller the Internet Guru is now belatedly realizing (duh!) that going on the blogs is a good strategy. Can we say "copy cat?" Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to be working, as Miller's MyDD interview only had 2 comments as of 5:30 PM, and both of them were negative! (one says "Harris Miller represents what is wrong with Virginia," the other says "I'd like to see Miller take on a live blogging session like Webb did on Kos." Ha.)
[UPDATE: Well, isn't this interesting. From a 3/22 story about Christopher Gabrieli, who?s thinking about a run for Governor in Massachusetts: "In recent days, Gabrieli has hired Washington-based consultants Nicholas Baldick, who was national campaign manager of John Edwards's campaign for president in 2004, his business partner, Mo Elleithee, who was communications director last year for Tim Kaine's winning campaign for governor in Virginia, and David Eichenbaum, who was Kaine's media consultant. Hmmm...what could THIS mean? Last time I checked, I thought Mo was working for Harris! I don't know, but Mo's a smart, talented guy. Maybe he can see what?s coming, and he?s got himself a backup plan with this Gabrieli guy? Whatever it is, I think it?s saying something when Mo already has another job lined up for his post-Miller days.]