The macaca effect plays both ways. The race card will shore up the racists while losing those apalled by racism. This has worked well for the Repubs for many an election season and Rove has used it in every election from his Texas days.

I think the tightening of the Allen-Webb race is because as people start to focus on the race they see a better candidate in Webb.

But this race is not over. As we saw in the Lamont-Loserman race when the hyper-negative attacks on Webb get unleashed with Allen's superior cash chest the numbers will change again. This will be a close race and I hope Webb prevails.

ah, i'm not so sure it will help him much with the racists. were they otherwise going to vote for the democrat? it's true that rove and the boys have done a fair bit of race-baiting, but from what i understand it's usually more targeted, through push-polling or so-called dog-whistle racism. i don't know what percentage of persuadable likely voters in any state are racist enough to be persuaded by overtly racial attacks, but i would bet just about anything that in almost all cases it's lower than the percentage of likely persuadable voters who will be turned off by it.

is that for real? it reminds me of a story i've heard about lbj, that when he was running for office for the first time he told his campaign manager he wanted to call his opponent a pig fucker. the campaign manager allegedly was was aghast and said something to the effect that there was no basis for the charge. according to the story i heard lbj responded that fine, but let the guy deny it. he would have enjoyed running against scott quite a bit.

I remember it hitting the DC papers when I lived there at the time. Wikipedia has a reference on the disambiguation page.

There was competition. Shortly after the press conference, there was a minor bombing of a bathroom in the Capitol. Hugh Scott (R-PA) held a press conference and confided that he believed it was a political act.

--
Howard

*equal opportunity offense to both extremes*

Webb, a Vet and a former Sec'y of the Navy under Reagan who turned to the Dems when the Republicans went completely crazy a few years ago will clean Allen's clock. More so in a security and defense oriented state like Virginia, which has been increasingly blue anyway in recent years.

Allen for President in '08? Not so much.

Just as gay marriage is a big losing issue among younger voters, racial slurs are too

I do love my g-g-generation :o). Unfortunately, we're going to have to clean up the mess that the boomers in power are leaving. Sigh.

How the heck did the Democrats field such a serious candidate in what must have looked like a losing proposition. Allen needs to worry. He will never get right of Webb on National Defense. At the same time Webb's national security positions fit nicely with Virginia Democrats. Allen's "Macaca" remark is liable to cause his bible thumpers to cool to their heals. As somebody said, he will keep his racist vote, but in a Democratic year who says they will come out to vote. Minorities on the other hand will vote and will vote in numbers. I think Virginia is going to be a hell of a race. By the way, the Macaca thing won't mean a thing unless Webb can close the deal. I have a hunch he has that ability. Odds are still with Allen, but he doesn't look invincible. Virginia might turn out to be the shocker of the year. Don't tell George.

Ron Byers