For many Virginians, last night’s final debate between Republican incumbent Senator George Allen and Democratic challenger Jim Webb was the first opportunity to see the candidates together. I had one at my house last night. She is not a political junkie, like those among the blogsphere, but she is a newspaper reader and therefore, pretty much up to speed on the issues of the day.
She groaned at Allen’s smooth delivery of the party line. She was impressed with Webb’s answers. I believe Webb’s performance made her feel better about her choice for Senator.
It’s hard to watch a debate when the two other people in the room are hooting and hollering at the candidates’ answers. As the result, I’ll be watching the debate again. My initial take was that Allen was just too smooth, too rehearsed. And Webb appeared tired – perhaps as much over the nature of this campaign as well as the physical and emotional toll that running for office takes.
One thing that was clear from Allen’s statements: he intends to try to portray Webb as a liberal in the mold of Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy. Expect the rest of the campaign to be about what his base believes Democrats stand for: tax and spend. Webb will have to counter this without being defensive, and he has to do it in such a way that Virginians can understand. No long, drawn out explanations are necessary. Every time Allen says tax and spend, he should counter with tax cuts and spend, which is what we have seen over the last six years of the Bush administration. Every time Allen says Hillary Clinton, Webb should say George Bush. (And throw Mark Foley in the mix, too.)
Allen appealed to his base last night, and threw in an appeal to the Democratic base by playing the Benny Lambert card yet again. Webb made a broad appeal to moderate Republicans and threw a bone at his base by mentioning the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus endorsement. Webb has to get more specific on this – because many people have no idea who the VLBC is – by saying Allen got one black senator and I have the endorsement of all the rest: four senators and eight delegates.
As for a winner – well, it depends on your point of view. It seems that Allen supporters thought he won and Webb supporters thought he won. I don’t think anybody won. And I wish this was not the last of the debates.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
“Every time Allen says Hillary Clinton, Webb should say George Bush.”
The thing is, if the Demcrats win the Senate, Hillary will have far more power than she does now. But either way, Bush will still be President.
“(And throw Mark Foley in the mix, too.)”
What did Allen, or any Senator, have to do with Mark Foley?
Jack – if Allen is going to try to paint Webb as being the same as the liberal Ds, then Webb should paint Allen with a similar brush. Fair? No, not on either side, but that is the way the game is played.
It is too bad that Allen wouldn’t agree to more debates…. though I’ve seen enough of his slick, overscripted party line.
I thought Webb gave smart, thoughtful responses — and in addition to his nonstop schedule – maybe worrying about his son in Ramadi is also a strain/making him tired.
“smart, thoughtful responses”…that he read from the papers on his podium
Vivian:
It’s not a matter of painting someone as a liberal or conservative, it’s a matter of who will get committee chairmanships.
And that still doesn’t address the issue of Foley. He’s in the House, not the Senate.
Good suggestions. Webb occasionally goes all wonkish in his answers. He’s not an experienced debater and lacks sound bite experience. We should bring back Obama to coach him — did you hear his party of “Tough and Smart” as opposed to the party of “Tough and Dumb” statement? The man’s got a wit.
Still, Webb’s sheer lack of smoothness can be very appealing. He just seems real.
OMG!!! Vivian J. Paige said something supportive about Jim Webb! OMG!!!
Jack – the problem is that the masses don’t see that nuance of the argument nor is that the one being clearly made by Allen. The masses see and hear “Dem = liberal tax & spend” because that is all that is ever discussed. You have to fight fire with fire.
Carla – I agree that Webb needs to shorten his answers.
Eileen – grow up.
Ooo, hit a nerve.
And there is a reason no one respects you, Eileen.
“OMG!!! Vivian J. Paige said something supportive about Jim Webb! OMG!!!”
Will someone please tell poor Eileen that the primary is over. It seems she didn’t get the memo.
Viv,
I’m not sure I agree with your final point. I think most of us on the right believe it was a draw too. Both candidates did well.
As a critique, I would agree that Allen was scripted, but not scripted enough to be mindful of the clock.
Webb was not scripted enough, too reliant on notes, and somewhat cynical.
Good, thoughtful, intellectually honest point — hence, why people DO respect you.
Vivian — what’s Foley got to do with it?
The only way you have a clear cut winner in a debate is if one of the candidate’s makes a clear blunder, such as poor Quayle comparing himself to JFK. Neither of the candidate’s made an error.
So now it all becomes a question of mobilization. Webb will win big in Fairfax, beyond that I have no way to judge what is happening.
Jack- I don’t think it matters if Foley really has anything to do with it in reality, it matters if people think Foley has anything to do with it. Remember, there are many people who believe that gas prices are solely determined by the electoral cycle and that the Republicans set those prices. The truth doesn’t matter if there’s a more intriguing idea to cover it up, and I’d say that, at least to the mainstream media right now, Foley is a more intriguing idea, he’s easier to write about, and easier to spin into a clear, identifiable guilty party. Emphasis on the “party.”