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August 19, 2006
Macaca's Revenge: Allen's Lead Cut to 5
Rasmussen's latest poll has George Allen leading James Webb in the Virginia Senate race 47-42. That's six points narrower than the 50-39 lead that Allen held last month, before he started slinging around North African racial slurs. One concern after Webb's primary victory was whether he could bring in the black voters who went for Harris Miller in the primary. I don't know whether slurs directed at an Indian-American will motivate blacks to vote against Allen, but if it reinforces the image of Allen as a racist, it probably helps.
If I were SR Sidarth, I'd be feeling pretty good about myself today. Let's hope that Chuck Schumer boosts the Webb campaign with some DSCC money.
August 19, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
If you were really committed to Edwards, you'd get called a macaca by HRC. Or at least claim that she called you that.
Posted by: SomeCallMeTim | Aug 19, 2006 11:04:21 AM
"Let's hope that Chuck Schumer boosts the Webb campaign with some DSCC money."
Agreed. But every DSCC dollar that goes to VA is a dollar that doesn't go somewhere else.
Let's really hope that Macaca-gate gets some direct donors to connect up with the Webb campaign. Between Indian-American communities, folks offended by racism, and generic partisan Dems who have suddenly became aware of this race, he should be able to raise a few bucks on his own.
Pre-Macaca, this was shaping up as an easy race for Allen because of the cash imbalance, which was apparently running 15 - 1 (!)
If Webb has the dough to run a real campaign, I think he's got a shot. He seems a very strong candidate to me.
Posted by: Petey | Aug 19, 2006 11:40:49 AM
Well, I already donated to Webb,and I hope others here do the same. The other thing I would add is that I hope the big wigs push this further onto the national donor radar. Right now I have read that ALlen has 12 million to Webb's one million. Allen will go negative in a serious way after Labor day, and the poll referenced indicate that a lot of people don't know Webb. This is too much room for Allen to use his money advantage against Webb to define Webb's name. I am hoping that folks like Clinton will come earlier rather than later to this campaign.
Posted by: akaison | Aug 19, 2006 12:38:52 PM
I donated to Webb also after a little research.
Posted by: Hamilton Lovecraft | Aug 19, 2006 1:00:26 PM
"I am hoping that folks like Clinton will come earlier rather than later to this campaign."
I didn't see this comment before I accidentally turned off my computer and my other comments concerning Clinton were lost.
Anyway, I have to wonder, how much can a rock star of the Democratic Party replace actual campaign spending? In other words, let's say Bill Clinton goes into Connecticut, where he would probably get a warmer reception than he would in Virginia, and campaigns for the three House candidates. My guess is, the amount of free media would be enormous, and if the event is planned smartly, it could bump the candidates up a few points. With this approach, Webb and other candidates like him could use money that would be spent on other campaigns.
Posted by: Brian | Aug 19, 2006 6:40:45 PM
well- there is nothing like free media to beat the expensive cost of ads. What is really needed- in my humble and totally internets based opinion- is for each challenger to think of some simple viral media idea that wil symbolize how their opponent is connected to the mess in DC much like Lieberman's 'the kiss' came to symbolize his failings. Simple imagery can say it all more than a lot of policy wonk statements or "my debates" ever could.
Posted by: akaison | Aug 19, 2006 8:05:42 PM
Lights, Camera, Stupidity-
George, are you really that dumb? You had to know that at least ONE person was filming the event.
The video has now shown over 25,000 times on the popular video web site YouBoob..... I'm sorry, that's YouTube.
Senator..... welcome to the real world of ....Deep Cacac.
more at http://www.HooYaDadi.com
Posted by: HooYa Dadi | Aug 21, 2006 9:48:39 AM
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