WASHINGTON
The end of the long struggle for the Democratic presidential nomination has left activists, provocateurs, talking heads, gossipmongers, and even the much-maligned mainstream media with time and space to fill until the fall campaign.
And a good chunk of them are filling it with Jim Webb.
From the Drudge Report to the Huffington Post, Newsmax to The New Republic, there is speculation about Virginia's junior senator and his prospects to become Barack Obama's running mate.
On the web site Donklephant, ("Surprisingly Reasonable," according to its masthead) writer Jennn Fusion last week had this answer to the question "Who is Jim Webb?"
"He's not afraid to bite, if provoked - even if the provoker is President Bush himself! He likes his guns and he's a good Irish Catholic, which may be how he won over Virginia - a traditionally Republican state."
Over at Hot Air, which calls itself "the world's first full-service conservative Internet broadcast network," a headline writer tagged Webb as "Obama's Rebel Yeller."
And on Crikey, an "independent online media service" based in Melbourne, Australia - that's right, Australia - land-down-under readers learned that Webb and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton are "riding high as the favourites for the nominee."
Webb "combines a strong anti-war position with the military experience of being Secretary of the Navy," Crikey blogger Possum Comitatus explained. "He's a popular Senator in a swing State that has strong appeal to working class males and he brings with him high levels of support and regard from military families - an important demographic for any election campaign with a large focus on Iraq."
All this, and much, much, much more, for a man not yet 18 months into his first elective office. When asked, Webb simply laughs off suggestions he wants to move up.
"It's the Internet," said Larry Sabato, the veteran University of Virginia professor long seen by reporters as a go-to guy for insights on state and national politics.
Webb is a particular favorite of liberals online, Sabato said, a powerful symbol whom they helped lift from obscurity in 2006 and who is now challenging the Democratic Party to return to its roots as the tribune of the working class. "He's so blunt-spoken, just like they are," Sabato said.
Sabato has a huge reputation and a stack of thoughtful books and essays to show for his decades of study of all things political. However, he and other media and academic "mentioners" who once dominated the arcane world of vice presidential speculation are being all but drowned out this year.
The numbers tell the story. A Google news search last week for "Jim Webb and running mate," produced 1,717 hits. A "Jim Webb and vice president" query brought 2,413 responses.
Webb's totals eclipsed those of every other Democratic prospect, save Clinton, a special case thanks to her quest for the top spot and status as a former first lady.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, an old Obama friend who also figures in the vice presidential speculation, got 1,238 hits on a "running mate" search, while former governor and current U.S. Senate candidate Mark Warner got 173.
The talk produces more talk, amplified worldwide now by search engines and blogs. It also helps that Webb's new book, "A Time to Fight," made the cover of the New York Review of Books last week. References to the review quickly sprouted on a variety of conservative and liberal web sites.
The book's timing was his publisher's idea, Webb has said, but its release and his salesmanship on its behalf on mainstream chat shows such as "Meet the Press" and cable's popular "The Daily Show" has produced still more online commentary, plus "You Tube" clips to be replayed and re circulated.
Because of the blogosphere, "this political campaign season has just been many decibels louder," said George Mason University's Mark Rozell, another veteran campaign analyst. "There is just so much more speculation about every nuance of the campaign."
Rozell was vacationing out of state with his family last week but found that the vice presidential buzz about Webb had even reached Myrtle Beach. "I'm surfing channels, and it's everywhere," he said. "You really can't get away from it."
Of course "it doesn't mean anything," said Gerald Pomper, a political scientist at Rutgers University. "What's really happening is happening offstage."
Obama and Republican John McCain are sorting through potential candidates from on and off the much-discussed lists and reaching their own conclusions, he said.
Vice presidents are rarely picked based "on polls of unrepresentative people, and people on the Internet are very unrepresentative," Pomper said. "People on the Internet are the worst people you'd want to listen to."
Dale Eisman, (703) 913-9872, dale.eisman@pilotonline.com
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Webb is a real leader
unlike fakes like Bush. He is not afraid to call Republicans the liars that they are. He can help restore our nation's dignity around the world.He actually served in the armed forces, unlike draft dodgers like Bush and Cheney. He actually supports and cares for our troops, unlike the oil-hungry, anything for a profit Republicans.
What?
Pornographenator.
Oh! I forgot we're discussing democrats.
With 3 marriages...
he'll never hold up to scrutiny of the press....he barely won his Senate seat!
Would Webb be a good candidate?
Probably no. Would he be a good VP? Definitely yes.
Sounds like a contradiction, but candidates have to campaign. Jim Webb is very lack-luster in that department. I remember seeing him at the VB Democratic Straw Poll Breakfast during the Senatorial Primary. His persona was so forbidding that few people had the nerve to approach him. He was obviously having a bad time and was having no luck in hiding the fact. After he won the nomination he warmed up a little. But face it, his winning the Senate was a result of Allen's failure, not Webb's success.
Webb has said he doesn't want to be the VP nominee, and I believe him. A nation campaign is his worst nightmare.
uh?
no!
tw303
I see you are a member of The Church of the Painful Truth!
};)~
Love to wee Webb run as VP
That would surely sink the Dems. Obama has been a senator 3 years, but 2 of them have been running for President. Webb is a new senator too...and he also has NO executive experience. Don't even mention the SECNAV for President Reagan when he quit after one year because he wasn't happy.
Of course, I'll still have to hold my nose to vote for McCain!
Both are
Pure dog sqeeze!
We need Jim Webb as a Senator
We need Webb to remain in our Senate and not linked to Obama, the day will come when Webb will be running for president not VP.
Webb would be a good choice,
Webb would be a good choice, but I think Obama will look for someone with more national name recognition. Hopefully Obama wins because four more years of Republican rule, and we will be a third world country.
I hope
I truly hope Webb declines this if it is offered. It would destroy his political career. When Obama loses it will be viewed as being partially Webbs fault. He should stay his current course.
He can't be "controlled".
Jim Webb has a history of backing our troops; the Navy Cross and Silver Star are only given to the best of the best. Never forget that he quit his appointment as Navy Secretary because the Administration wanted to reduce the size of the Navy. Sometimes, when you're up against dull, unimaginative, closed minds, it's better to walk away, to fight and win another day. That's what he did. I like Webb. He's bright, articulate, tough, he speaks his mind, he writes his own speeches, and he won't back down from anyone, not even our President.
Here's a Webb quote I like: "It's pretty safe to say that I am the only person in the history of Virginia to be elected to statewide office with a union card, two Purple Hearts, and three tattoos." Outstanding.
Of course, he doesn't have a prayer of getting the VP nod. Too controversial for the Dems...he can't be "controlled". It will go to some bland, older, establishment guy, or, God forbid...Hillary.
Jasona
"Obama's plans for massive government takeover of more of our personal lives is enough reason not to vote for him."
How about some examples.
Give the "Webb is rude" fallacy a rest
If you actually watch/read the transcripts of the Bush/Webb exchange, it is clear that Bush was actually the rude one. Webb was simply giving him an answer Bush did not want to hear, Bush kept prodding to get the answer he wanted, and when he didn't, attempted to force Webb into giving him the answer he wanted. As for the hothead assertion, I guess people do not remember that McCain has a long-standing reputation of being a hothead as well. Finally, do people even remember why Webb resigned as Secretary of the Navy? I doubt it...
WEBB & OBAMA
WEBB ....YES
OBAMA....NO
Already enough reason not to vote for him
Obama's plans for massive government takeover of more of our personal lives is enough reason not to vote for him. Adding Webb really doesn't make much difference. I really don't like a lot of McCain's positions either but at least he's not laying out a plan to take a lot more of my income and then maybe give some of it back to me in services as he sees fit.
Obama's a racist?
It is perplexing to me how anyone can throw out a a damning statement like "Obama seems rascist" with such ease. There are certainly things you can doubt Obama on, experience comes to mind, but racism? I don't get it. As far as Webb for VP, I would rather he stayed in the Senate, where he can be much more productive. Plus, as he proved in his run for office, he seems to really abhor campaigning. And as far as the national media pounding on him regarding some of his past opinions on certain issues, they were all over it during the 2006 campaign, as the Virginia senate campaign was one of the most closely watched.
Webb would be a good choice,
Webb would be a good choice, but I think they will choose someone with more national name recognition. Four more years of Republican rule and we will be a third world country. The things that need to be done like alternative energy for American Energy Independence have been ignored by the two ex oil men in the White House.
clewis
Did you ever hear of Freedom of Speech?
We get it George
You don't like Obama... do you really have to make a post about it on EVERY politcal article submitted on this website?