Rick Boucher, Bill Carrico, and William Wampler

I’ve had discussions with learned Republicans in this area about the Boucher v. Carrico race.  Just about every Republican I’ve talekd to has already conceded this race.  There’s no way–no way–that Bill Carrico can beat Rick Boucher.

The general consensus is that the GOP will either have to wait until Boucher retires (which is probably a very long way off), or until State Senator William Wampler decided to run against him.

You may know that Senator Wampler’s father, Bill Wampler, was the 9th district’s Congressman from 1952-1954 and from 1966-1982, when he was defeated by Boucher.  GOPers think that Wampler may want to “vindicate” his father for the loss.  Others think that simply based on his last name, he could beat Boucher.

I say no way.

First, we’re not even sure if Wampler would want to run for Congress.  I’ve heard from a Republican friend of mine (who ran for Lt. Governor in 2001, if that tells you who it is) that says Wampler won’t run for any higher office until his children are older, and even then, he would probably like to run for a statewide office (Lt. Governor is the most likely choice, apparently).   That’s a way to kill three birds with one stone, right there.  Not only would Wampler’s Senate seat come open (a possible Democrat pickup–Boucher held it before he did), but a losing race would probably eliminate Wampler from running against Boucher, and, since Wampler isn’t exactly what I would call chairismatic, he would probably lose the LG race (maybe even in the primary if it’s 2009).

So, I’m here to say to the Republicans, Bill Carrico is not going to be our congressman.  William Wampler is not going to be our congressman.  Running against Rick Boucher is a lost cause, folks.

-Neal

Jim Webb In Bristol

Today I went to an event at the Holiday Inn here in Bristol with Jim Webb.  This was my first time seeing Webb in-person, and I was thoroughly impressed.  As intelligent as he comes across on television, he’s even more impressive in-person.  He covered issues from his Reagan television ad and his time in the Reagan administration to social and economic fairness and the Iraq War.

George Allen had a guy with a camera at the event, who apparently I was sitting directly in front of.  The guy’s name was John.  He apparently didn’t have a last name (or, since he didn’t want anybody to know it, left it off his name tag).  I’ll say this about him (and I don’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 shouldn’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 Webb’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, “Like ethnic breakup of fatalities in any given battle in the Vietnam War, and within 24 hours, boom, there’s a spreadsheet,” (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 Webb’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.

-Neal

Can We Get This Show On The Road?

I’m a big supporter of Jim Webb, and everybody knows that.  But I’m getting frustrated with the situation we’ve got here.  In Jim Webb we have a great candidate.  Just the kind of candidate the Democratic Party needs to defeat Republicans.

But in the Jim Webb for Senate campaign, we have serious problems.  I don’t fault any one person.  I fault a lack of money, a lack of planning, and a lack of visability.

The Kaine campaign in 2005 was always one step ahead of Jerry Kilgore’s people.  Tim Kaine assembled one of the best campaign staffs I’ve seen.  And Harris Miller’s staff earlier this year was almost as good.  Those folks knew how to run a race.  These folks should be highly involved in the Webb campaign.

The way some of my blogginh colleagues talk, this election is a slam-dunk already.  I hate to say it, but it’s anything but.  If the Webb campaign can’t get its’ act together, it’s going to get more and more one-sided as we come closer to November.  And, frankly, neither our state, our party, nor of country can afford to have George Allen in the Senate any longer, or have the Republicans in control of the Senate.

It is vital that the Webb campaign get a huge shot of cash to help it out, and that Jim Webb start campaigning more vigorously.  A look at his website would lead me to believe he’s taking it pretty easy when it comes to campaigning.  Right now, the only event listed is on August 3rd in Virginia Beach.  Then the next event listed is a full 10 days away.  And, since the August 13 event is actually a series of statewide house parties, I doubt anybody who comes out for those isn’t already solidly in the Webb camp.

Many of the events that have been on the schedule recently (wit ha couple exceptions, yes) have been in Democrat strongholds.  That doesn’t help a whole lot.  Where are the events in Lynchburg, in Martinsville, in Bristol (!!!!), in Winchester?

There’s no need for me to mention the recent debate between Webb and Allen.  It’s my belief that more Virginians could quote, word for word, “Casey at the Bat” than could tell you anything about the debate.  It was like it was top-secret.  Both campaigns claimed a big victory, so I guess your point of view on the debate depends on who you’ve already decided to vote for (which has all the nasty characteristics of a vicious circle).

I don’t speak for the Bristol Democratic Committee, but I can speak for myself and relay what individual members have said.  What they’re saying, and what I’ve been saying here, is that the Webb campaign needs to get its’ act together now, get in every part of the state (I would strive for all the independent cities and 2/3 of the counties), walk around on the street and talk to people, go sit in coffee shops, do what ever it takes to get the message out.

This race won’t be decided among the blogosphere, the religious right, or the party faithful in general.  This race will be decided in McDonalds, Wal-Mart, NASCAR stadiums, high school football games, and church socials.  Let’s beat George Allen to them.