Potential Senate candidate James Webb leads Harris Miller according to the
Wall Street Journal. Here are the results:
Allen (R) - 49.3%
Webb (D) - 38.3%
Allen (R) - 50.1%
Miller (D) - 36.0%
MOE: +/- 3.2%
This is all within the margin of error, but this is a good sign for several reasons. #1) Allen is
polling at or below 50%, NOT good news for a first term incumbent. #2) He has steadily declined
since polling began in August. He has lost 4 points, Webb has gained 2. #3) Allen is being tied to
Abramoff and I highly doubt his numbers will go up any time soon. #4) Virginia is trending blue,
with major Democratic wins at all levels of state government.
With Webb as our candidate, we have a real chance at picking up this seat. Allen has near
universal name recognition and yet he is barely treading water. Webb, an unknown, unannounced
potential candidate is gaining ground and currently beating the announced candidate, Harris Miller.
If Webb does run, he will be infinitely more appealing to VA voters than Harris Miller. Consider
this: Miller is a lobbyist for the telecommunications industry, has never held political office
(to the best of my knowledge), promoted outsourcing and offshoring jobs, and has lobbied for
Diebold. He has no military experience, and would undoubtedly support CAFTA and other similar
measures. In every sense he is an "inside-the-beltway" candidate. Does he sound like a candidate
you would support? Do you think he will appeal in any way to crossover voters?
Now on the other hand, Webb served as Secretary of the Navy and is a highly decorated veteran of
the Vietnam War. He advised against the invasion of Iraq in 2002. Virginia has the largest
naval base in America, some of the biggest commercial ports, and is home to numerous veterans. Webb
would undoubtedly work hard to keep those jobs and bases up and running. He is outspoken and does
not mince words, in other words he could be a Hackett-style candidate.
Who do you think would have a better chance of beating Allen? If you think Webb would be a better
candidate and eventually a better Senator, please sign this
petition and urge him to run. I am maintaining the Virginia: 2006 Elections page on Democratic Underground.
Check there for up-to-date information. Thanks!
-Alec
p.s. See Raising Kaine's Blog for more. And
FYI, Warner would beat Allen 49 to 32.
p.p.s This is my first dKos diary...sorry if its messy