1. One woman in the audience said that this was the first time she's ever been to a Democratic event. When the question was raised as to Jim Webb's history as a Republican, I counted at least three people who murmured, "I used to be a Republican, too."
That's what will allow Jim Webb to beat George Allen. Lifelong Republicans and Reagan Democrats will vote for this guy. And, as Al Weed said, those are the voters who will give him a shot to beat Virgil Goode in the 5th, if Al gets to run on a ticket with Jim Webb at the top.
2. Charlottesville Daily Progress political reporter, Bob Gibson, asked the final question, looking for Webb's reaction to the alleged massacre by Marines of 24 civilians in Haditha last November. His response was measured, serious and responsible. He said that he wasn't going to come to any conclusions as to what happened and who was responsible. He made reference to the difficult challenge of young soldiers fighting a guerilla war and expressed his confidence that the military justice system would do its work and find truth and resolution.
That's what will make Jim Webb a U.S. Senator that we can be proud of. He could have played to the crowd and talked about how appalled he was and started handing out blame. He didn't. I take it as a mark of character that Jim Webb didn't pander.
I now know who I'm voting for on June 13th.
There was press coverage - in addition to Bob Gibson (Daily Progress), there were local television reporters and cameras.
Webb was about 45 minutes late to the event. I understand he was shaking hands with folks on the Downtown Mall before coming into Miller's. There were lots of folks outside - lunchtime on a nice sunny day (before the thunderstorm).
He made a brief (maybe 5 minute?) speech before going into "taking questions" mode. Questions were wide-ranging, although there were multiple questions that all sought to get assurance as to Jim Webb's committment to the Democratic Party. There was clearly concern that he might get elected as a Democrat and then pull a Virgil Goode. Webb's responses that, win or lose, he was a Democrat for the rest of his life, seemed to satisfy folks. He particularly invoked Andrew Jackson and Harry Truman as being his breed of Democrats.
While there were people there who came in as Webb supporters, I know there were also plenty who went to help make up their minds. That was the case with the couple who we shared a table with. I didn't conduct post-event interviews, but my sense was that Jim Webb earned himself some votes among the undecideds.
I have no idea where this idea is coming from that we cannot welcome into the fold people who are most concerned about the Direction of the nation.