This might be the most gracious thing about another person's campaign I have ever read.

Great post Josh.

Especially after such a bitter campaign.  Very classy, just like Harris Miller's speech last night.  Thanks.

Josh has achieved perfection in setting the tone and spirit needed for prompt reconciliation and rejuvination within our party of Democrats determined to win in November and beyond. 

I said it earlier, but no one is listening.  The Webb campaign has to be proactive in healing the wounds they inflicted. 

This post is a good start, but you will have to reach out to Miller supporters and convince them that you will not turn on them again.

Elected officials don't like to get insulted and berated just because they chose a different candidate in a primary.

Many of us fear you and your scorched earth tactics.

It is time for unity and it is the victors who must pave the way.

One kiss ass piece does not wash away the memories of the venom.

The fastest way to build a bridge is to build it from both ends at the same time. 

Josh's post is sincere and a good first start.  I hope more people from BOTH camps have the good sense to follow his example.

Three next-steps on this that I'd like to see the Webb campaign take:

1. In-person meetings with each of Miller's endorsements, to begin the process of healing.  Talk with them about Webb's plans, explain his vision for the state, work to neutralize them if not bring them on board, and try to mend the fences that have left people feeling hostile or hurt.  It's a way to, as you said, put them at ease for the scorched earth tactics that came up during this primary (on both sides) and show them that the bloggers who were so passionate aren't in fact out to take down Virginia's good Democrats.

2. A comprehensive mailing to Miller's Democrats in Virginia, ideally to any list that the Webb campaign has of Miller supporters.  Reach out to these people with a very positive message from Webb, talking about the primary and the need to unite behind our common values, including economic fairness, a need for better national security, protection of our rights against things like NSA wire-tapping, etc. (a bit of nuts-and-bolts stuff).

3. Some type of high-profile written piece by Webb himself that speak to these topics.  An op-ed from the candidate seems like a tough placement - it's so self-serving that some newspapers might reject it - but maybe a piece that can be posted on the Webb for Senate site, and circulated among county Democratic committees.  I'm thinking something a little lofty, talking about our values, ideals, that seeks to bring people together. 

Just my two pennies to toss into the ring.  I think there's a tremendous opportunity right now with Webb having just emerged as the victor to use that positively, position him as a bit of a statesman (not enough to lose the outsider reputation, but enough so that he comes off as above low-brow tactics and petty partisanship).  I know the Webb team doesn't have a ton of money, but now is the right time to use some of that, as well as some of your political capital.

Many of the people who endorsed Miller did so because of past relationships, contributions, and "party loyalty", whatever that means.  Some endorsed before Webb got into the race.  Others endorsed because they were told (I wonder by whom?) that Webb was not going to enter the race.  That takes care of half of his endorsements.

And I agree-total class act.

As for elected officials refusing to vote for a Dem in order to unseat Allen bc a couple of bloggers went too far-that's not gonna wash.

HOWEVER

I do personally apologize to each and every person I "got hot" with.  I hope we can all work together to get rid of Allen.

We did get hot with some people didn't we?

But like I said-to all of you I DID yell at, I apologize.

If the Dems could get Miller to repent the error of his ways with regard to labor, outsourcing, insourcing, trade and bending Democratic principles to the will of Corporate short terms and ill conceived demands...

there is no doubt he's a very sharp guy.

That's been the problem in tech land, he is a sharp guy and very effective and why we went after him like flies on ****.

Interesting post, but I have to disagree a little bit.  While Harris Miller was gracious in defeat, he did manage to throw some negative elements into the race that can and will be used by the Allen campaign against Webb.  I got into it with a paid Miller staffer at the polling place yesterday.  I didn't mean to, but I she was trying to compete for votes, and things got a little heated. 

I suppose that politics is politics, but ultimately I feel that until Harris Miller atones for the negative things he said about Webb that could hurt Webb in the Fall campaign, I will not be satisfied that he has done the right thing.

Dem4ever, just listen to yourself.  Your candidate trashed the character of our candidate, and by extension, you did that to us.  I don't know who you are kidding.  You all owe us an apology.  By your candidate's and your wedging false allegations of racism, misogyny, and anti-Semitism, you did what could be irreparable damage to everyone you accused. 

I, for one, will never forgive that.  If Democrats don’t stick to the issues (which even on our worst days we did), then we will never be a majority party again.  I cannot believe that you would so insistently attack our character.  I know you were supporting your guy.  But you all stepped way, way over the line.  Some of us being angry about excessive  "global outsourcing" pales.  Democrats are supposed to fight for working people. 

You tainted the process.  You wedged hatred.  Do you really think those of us who have worked for many years for fairness for all groups (including minorities and women) would support a bigoted candidate?  Some of us were working for civil rights before many of today's activists were born.  How dare you?  Do you really think so little of us?  Or was it anything goes to win?  I generally agree with Josh's notion that we should try to mend bridges.  But let's be real.  This was a vicious campaign, but it is you who owe the apology.  We are still waiting. 

Where I come from, that kind of malicious character assassination is wrong.  Frankly, though I am happy with the outcome, I have never been so disappointed in my party, or rather a portion of it.  Only time will tell whether our party cares to be a unifying force or one of hateful division.  Ball's in your court. 

Again, we all have the power to positively affect Jim Webb's campaign by reaching out to real Miller supporters. The person who suffered most from Miller's negative campaign may have been Miller himself. Many of Miller's supporters weren't impressed by Miller's negative campaigning--they were simply voting for one of their own, a long-time Democrat.

Let's show that we can be gracious in victory and that we, like Jim Webb, are great Democrats.

There will be a few genuine holdouts to be sure, but the reality is that many of the anonymous negative commentors in the blogosphere are agents provocateurs: Republicans masquerading as Democrats to cause dissension. Do not let yourself be provoked.

Don't let a trolling Republican trick you into an attack on Harris Miller's supporters.  Miller has pledged to support Jim Webb and I believe that his supporters will also support Webb so long as they are not subjected to insulting rhetoric, here or elsewhere. We should give them an opportunity to demonstrate their good intentions and reach out to them as well.

Yep folks - Webb and Lowell have done a fabulous job in motivating volunteers, but the funds needed to put any person into the U.S. Senate have not been raised yet.

The one thing the Miller campaign had on the Webb campaign in spades, was fund-raising... and I mean beyond Harris's personal investments.  We need to contribute and contribute widely (not necessarily deeply) in order to help Jim crush Senator Allen this fall.

Many donations look better than a few huge ones.

Contribute and get your friends to contribute.  I did today, and though the fund-raiser we had planned for Jim Webb has fallen through (scheduling conflict), we still plan to have one sometime later in the summer.

Just like the distasteful cartoon of Miller that Webb used in his campaign.

This request is simply unseemly, no matter how many "4"s LCD and the rest of the Webb supporters pile on.  After troll-rating and name-calling anyone who didn't support Webb on RK, they are now welcome here as long as they have their checkbook out? 

Perhaps you should wait till after Webb delivers a welcoming speech as gracious as Miller's concession speech before demanding money from Miller supporters.  Or if that never comes, how about 24 hours?  Whichever comes first.

There is nothing yet on the "Webb site" or in the newspaper articles he links to that suggest anything from Webb welcoming Miller supporters.  http://www.webbforsenate.com/. In fact the Post article linked there says, "[Webb's] first appeal was to people like himself. 'It's time to welcome home those Democrats who left for a time, the Reagan Democrats, the conservative Democrats, whatever labels we give them,' Webb said."

Hopefully he'll reach out soon.  Like any family, Dems will fight and they have to make up for their own good.  But asking for money before asking for forgiveness is just tacky.

Rough and tumble elections are an American tradition.  No hard feelings. 

Last night, today, tonight... I am still hearing Webb people trashing Miller supporters and talking about taking them out or defeating them the next time around.

Don't get me wrong.  Some of you on this blogs are admitting you were vicious and over the top and you are now being gracious.  I assure you that warms the cockles of our hearts after months of your trash talk.

But one of the bloggers on this post hit it on the head when he said that we haven't heard any words of conciliation or welcome from Webb or from his campaign.

Good luck rounding up those Reagan "Democrats" and holding onto the miniscule percentage of Virginia Democratic voters you attracted in the primary.  That coalition will get you real far on Election Day.

Without the "establishment" Democrats here in Virginia, who the Webb campaign continues to ignore and the Webb campaign workers continue to loathe, there can be no victory in November.

Those of you with "influence" ought to explain that to the campaign and to the candidate himself.

So far, Webb hasn't issued one word of invitation to those who supported Miller, who has proven his class with his post-primary message of unity and support for Webb.

We are waiting to hear similar words from Webb.  If they don't come soon, they may fall on deaf ears.

Whether you are an old friend or new supporter, Harris has sent the message, in emails and personal phone calls, that he has accepted the voters' decision and is genuinely working right now for Jim Webb.  He is only looking forward, not back.  He is at peace and determined to see Jim Webb as the next Senator from Virginia.  Get with the program.

All I'm saying is, the timing of this post, and your snarky response, will not inspire a rush to the checkbook.  Do you want the satisfaction of being nasty, or do you want money?  If you want to maximize your support, you would have quit your nastiness by now.  If you don't want to maximize your support, against an incumbent with millions of dollars of no less, and you want this kind of behavior to reflect on your candidate, you can snark all you please. I've been putting my money where my values are in VA, but so far I've seen little that makes me feel good about writing a check today.

Andrea, your comment makes a sound point, and I am sorry I did not think of the implications of my post or I would have waited a day because of how it must look.

I was coming at this from the point of view of someone who was a Miller supporter and contributer.  So it did not even occur to me that I'd offend the other Miller supporters... sorry.

I first started following this race in the "anyone but Allen" camp.  I was watching with interest the draft Jim Webb efforts and initially quite skeptical of Miller (who I had not met, but I knew he was a lobbyist).  Initially I was torn because I despise Reagan and Webb was unapologetic about his Reagan years, and I despise lobbiests, and Miller was dodging his lobby history.

In late April I met with the Webb campaign folks to try to arrange a fund-raiser for Mr. Webb - only I wanted to make it for after the Primary so I knew my friends would be contributing to the real Allen opponent (hedging my bets).

Then I met Harris Miller at the May Sunday Supper Club meeting, and was very impressed.  I contributed to his campaign that night.  I posted on my blog about the switch in allegience, and called the Webb campaign to notify them.  We talked and agreed to leave the fund-raiser on the books as I was first and foremost an Allen opponent and would happily raise money for any Democrat who could win the primary.  I worked a little on the Miller campaign and joined a few other bloggers in defending Miller.

I tried to meet Jim Webb at a few events, and kept missing him, mostly through my own conflicts.  I totally blew my opportunity when he called me in person to thank me for hosting the fund-raiser, and I was so surprised that I did not think to even ask my pressing questions!  Ouch.  Always have your most pressing questions handy...

I finally got to meet Jim Webb at the D.A.D. breakfast rescheduled on June 6th, and really liked him too....  Now I am officially torn, though continued to lean Miller until the weekend before the Primary.  We got a bunch more negative flyers from the Miller campaign in our mailbox.  The negative stuff I was reading about Miller was by independent bloggers.  The negative stuff I was reading about Webb was on official Miller flyers (please note: Miller's campaign never called Jim either of the nastiest things that were talked about here, that was again, independent bloggers).  I finally made up my mind the night before and actually voted for Webb in the Primary.

So I came at this from a Miller perspective, and eventually switched despite the very negative comments here (I take everything with a grain of salt).

My main point is that the Miller campaign was pulling in lots of money (I myself had already contributed to it, and not to the Webb campaign), and Webb was not pulling in money... yet.  I decided the way I could help most was to contribute (so I did) then remind my fellow Miller contributers that we need to back the man who will defeat Allen.

BTW - I predict Allen loses by 15% or more in November.

I'm sure Webb will come around and ask for this support.  Likewise I'm sure many Miller people are waiting to be "asked to dance."  My own experience is that all many voters want is to be asked for their support.

This will be a whirlwind week for the winners, so some delay can be overlooked.  However, if Webb wants this support (and if he wants to overcome concerns about the ability of his campaign to organize and prioritize), he should prioritize this as an ASAP item: it should be at least as highly prioritized as welcoming "Reagan Dems."

This was a great post. I think it's time for unity. And this, like Harris Miller's concession speech, is a huge step in that direction.

Thank you.