RK ARCHIVE - Jim Webb in Bristol

George Allen had a guy with a camera at the event, who apparently I was sitting directly in front of. The guyGペs name was John. He apparently didnGペt have a last name (or, since he didnGペt want anybody to know it, left it off his name tag). IGペll say this about him (and I donGペt like to talk bad about folks too much): If these folks with the cameras are representing the campaign of a sitting U.S. Senator, they shouldnGペt wear shorts that are way too short for a guy, or shirts with motor oil (or something) on them.

One thing that was very interesting to me was WebbGペs segment on the lead-up to the Iraq War, and calling his friend, Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska. He posed a very detailed question to Hagel for him to pass on to the Department of Defense. He said that in previous times, he would pose even more detailed questions, GェLike ethnic breakup of fatalities in any given battle in the Vietnam War, and within 24 hours, boom, thereGペs a spreadsheet,Gォ (that quote was not verbatim, but close) but, with the particular question posed to Hagel, it took longer. Much longer. After 60 days, Hagel received a letter back from an Assistant Secretary for Public Relations that blew the question off totally, without any kind of answer. That, Jim Webb said, was the standard practice for the Bush administration.

After WebbGペs speech, he took questions from the audience. It amazed me that every question posed to him, he had a thorough and specific answer for. No dancing around the issue. The questions ranged from international trade laws, to gaffes from Allen, to closing the gap between the three classes.

I came away from this event even more convinced than ever that Jim Webb is not only the best and brightest for the job, and that he would make a great Senator, but that in January, he will be our Senator.

Comments

Thanks Neal. Nice report (JennyE - 9/23/2006 10:17:54 PM)

I think Webb has a good shot at leveling the playing field in SW Virginia. If he keeps campaigning in this region, he'd do far better than Kaine did in '05. Huge turnout in N Va coupled with strong turnout for Webb in other areas will ensure a Webb victory.

I hope the campaign starts airing some ads in this area. Lots of people looking for change here. They just need to hear Webb's message.

Neal, can you tell us (LAS - 9/23/2006 10:55:26 PM)

a little about the audience? Where they local dems or mixed? How many were there?

Thanks for sharing this with us!

Audience (Neal2028 - 9/23/2006 11:16:25 PM)

There were about 30-35 people there, and very few of them are on our city committee (maybe 5). There were folks there from all over Washington County, Grayson County, Smyth County, and a person or two from Tazewell County.

I saw a whole lot of people I had never seen before at other events, and a whole lot of people who weren't as old as the usual clientele at an event like this.

They were very excited about the event and gave him two or three standing ovations.

I think Jim Webb is bringing new people into the party (one person in particular said he was a Reagan Democrat who came back right after Webb announced) and into the system. Things are looking very good I think.

pictures (Neal2028 - 9/23/2006 11:46:24 PM)

I took a couple pictures of the event, which I'll post as soon as Wal-Mart is done with them. I would have had them by now, but for some reason, the One-hour photo was unavailable, so send-out was my only option.

The real question needs to be down there, (Used2Bneutral - 9/24/2006 4:05:12 AM)

How many of the 35 had notepads and were scribbling frantically when Webb was asked a question ??? The press become the "force multiplier" in this day in and day out activity. Besides the Allen "tracker" and the Webb "tracker - tracker" there were at least 2 guys in the "crowd" from the Webb campaign to put up the signs... and usually two guys from the Allen campaign to tear them down right after everybody stops looking..... so figuring handler and driver as well as local democratic committee people, that leaves maybe a couple dozen who were curious or really needed to get to the combination barber shop/7-11/gas-station/laundry-mat/Sub-way sandwich shop the entrance to which was being blocked by the rally.... so a turn out of 35 in Bristol isn't bad...... and saves money on renting a sound system......

Waste of time? (Neal2028 - 9/24/2006 5:50:22 PM)

So, speaking to voters is a waste of time? Let's just forget about ever campaigning anywhere that we're not 10 points ahead in already. That sounds like a winning idea right there.

It's important that Jim Webb gets to as many places in the state as he can, including SWVA. SWVA in particular, I think, because we all basically know that Webb will win NOVA, and if he can hold Allen down in SWVA, then, in Webb's words from yesterday, "There's no way he [Allen] can win."

I hope you are joking Ms. Oldham (Brian - 9/24/2006 10:09:52 PM)

Jim Webb was in Southwest Virginia for the UMWA's Annual Fish Fry in Castlewood, which is a very well-attended event. This year, despite very rainy weather, around 400 attended and got to see Jim in action.

Jim stopped off in Bristol on his way to a fundraiser in Abingdon. To claim he would be wasting time by visiting Bristol is very offensive and short-sided.

No matter how well Jim does in NoVA and Hampton Roads, if he does not do well in Southwest too, it will be almost impossible to win. Why concede an entire region to George Allen? Not to mention a region where Jim has strong family roots.

You should apologize to Southwest Virginians.

Every person (lwumom - 9/24/2006 12:50:05 PM)

who attends a Webb event becomes a spokesperson for Jim Webb. If they tell their friends, family, and co-workers about Webb's stance on the issues, those people know more about the choices they have for Senatorial election. The "trickle-down effect" can have an impact on elections. So, having 30 or so people at an event, means that 30 people are going to be introducing more people to Jim Webb. If, in turn, these people take that information, find out more about Webb as a candidate, and pass their info along as well, it can only help to make Jim Webb more well known.

Correct. (Neal2028 - 9/24/2006 6:01:39 PM)

I'll say this; I've become a "spokesperson" for the campaign, evangelizing about Jim Webb every chance I get. Even my mom, who came with my yesterday, got in on the act by calling five or six of her friends and bragging about Webb.