- Virginia political expert Larry Sabato rates this race still a toss-up, but is predicting that Webb wins the race:
Virginia - Toss-up - Jim Webb (D) will unseat Sen. George Allen (R). Of course we're not counting him out altogether, but Allen's slow self-destruction has been nothing short of breathtaking, and we at the Crystal Ball are still somewhat shocked to find ourselves at the epicenter of the fight for the Senate.
- The Rothenberg political report does the same, calling this race a "lean takeover."
- In a great editorial titled "I should be supporting Allen. Instead, I'm leaving the party," conservative Frank Schaeffer explains that because of Allen's smear campaign, he's leaving the Republican party!
People like Mr. McCain GÇô who is "for" the war in Iraq GÇô and Mr. Webb GÇô who is "against" the war GÇô should be respected no matter one's politics or ideas about the war. Why? Because they paid their dues.My wife and I have reached the tipping point. We plan to go to town hall to dump our Republican voter registration and reregister as independents. I don't care anymore what party someone is in. These days, what I care about is what they're made of.
Wartime demands leaders with character and moral authority. The political party smearing Mr. Webb proves it has neither.
- And, another endorsement today - this one from the Rappahannock Times:
We want real leaders with integrity, ideas and bi-partisan cooperation. If you've had enough and you want uncompromised leadership that will change Washington, vote for Jim Webb for Senate and Jim Nachman for House of Representatives on November 7.
Highlights:
Since an upset victory in the Democratic primary last June, he has captured the imagination of not only Virginians, but grassroots Americans everywhere. ***Mr. Webb has turned out to be everything, and more, that his initially-tiny but highly dedicated core of supporters, most primarily motivated by their opposition to the debacle in Iraq, hoped for when he began his race last spring. He started out last February without a penny in his campaign chest. But he built his campaign through the strength of his character, the passion of those who backed him and a strident opposition to Iraq and other Bush programs. ***
Moreover, with his credentials, he can be a powerful symbol, nationally, representing the broad-based, bi-partisan contempt now held by a wide majority of the American people for President Bush and the GOP’s responsibilities for the amazingly disastrous Iraq mess.***
Webb at $63.8, up $4.5
Allen in full retreat :
http://hotlineblog.n...
Democrats detect a pattern in Sen. George Allen's campaign advertising schedule which suggests to them the incumbent is running out of money and is relying on an infusion from nat'l Republicans to reach parity with challenger James Webb.
IF Webb and his supporters can keep up the pace for the next 5 days, then it looks pretty good for the challenger. Don't discount the Republican GOTV machine.
GO JIM !!!