First I'll say this about Harris Miller. There has been plenty of negativity said about him, and I've done my fair share. While we may not admire his practices as a lobbyist and his less than admirable business practices, I think we should admire the work he has done for the Democratic Party. He is certainly no idol, but he isn't as bad as we've made him out to be either. I hope one day when Jim Webb is serving as our next Senator and George Allen is off playing cowboy, we can acknowledge that Harris Miller has been (for the most part) a good Democrat.
For Jim Webb, what is there to be said that hasn't been said already. He's integrity is unrivaled. His intelligence and life experience makes Bored George look like the fraud he is. Webb's patriotism and love of our country are a model for all Americans. And while many out there take issue with Webb's past Republican history, I'd advise them to heed the words of Mark Warner (who Miller so desperatly adores). "It's not about liberal or conservative, or left vs. right, but about the future vs. the past". Jim Webb is a leader for the future.
Jim Webb is going to win. As I think Virginia Centrist said, "Campaigns can be fixed. Candidates can't". Webb's campaign can regain focus and improve (personally I think their weaknesses are mainly fundraising - I think the DSCC may help out a little there!). No matter how much money Allen raises and how many high priced consultants he surrounds himself with, he can't escape the fact that he voted with W 97% of the time. He supported an illogical war that has cost countless lives and billions of dollars. He pushed for an economic model that is benefiting the wealthy, punishing the poor, and leaving the middle class squeezed. He uses a divisive social agenda that panders to the Religous Right (whose influence in Virginia is clearly on the decline).
Perhaps the worst charge of all, Allen has declared that he is 'bored' in the Senate, which brings into question how hard he is working to see our state needs met. It shows that he cares little for the business of the Senate, and is merely using the most influential democratic body in the world to network and gain friends for a run to the Presidency. There are many honorable men on both sides of the aisle who would better serve the interests of Virginia by not treating the job of United States Senator as a stepping stone.
Maybe a Senator who was engaged would gain transportation funding for Nova and Tidewater, get the EPA to put more attention on the Chesepeake Bay, and bring economic aid to those in southwest and southside Virginia who are falling behind in the globalized economy. But none of this really matters to George Allen. All he cares about is being in the GOP insiders club so he gain take a shot at the White House.
We've got a long way to go and a lot more to do before Tuesday. But when its all said and done, we're going to put Jim Webb in the Senate and change the course of our country. NOW LET'S GET OUT THERE AND GET TO WORK!