"Exhibit A is, of course, unfolding in Virginia, where one new poll has Democrat Jim Webb ahead of incumbent George "Macaca" Allen by eight points. Most other polls have the race in a dead heat, but who thought of this contest as anything but a pro-forma re-election campaign for Allen on his way to the White House in 2008."
Now, Allen is not only on the defensive, he looks like a loser. Every election cycle, challengers and opposition parties always trumpet that the people are in the mood for change: It's always a little bit true and always a lot of wishful thinking. But having George Allen in trouble in Virginia is a sure sign that people are rethinking their choices very carefully.
Allen is a pure conservative, unapologetic and unyielding. He wears cowboy boots and was believed to be completely in sync with the conservative character of his state. He was governor and beat another popular former governor and two-term incumbent Sen. Chuck Robb in 2000.
To the extent that conservatives wanted uncompromising, confrontational leaders, disdainful of Democrats and liberals, George Allen was their guy, in much the same way that George W. Bush was their guy. But in changing their minds about George Bush, they may have changed their mind about George Allen, too, and may indeed be in a mood for change.
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