The Virginian-Pilot
©
WASHINGTON
With the 2010 congressional elections in the rear view mirror, political talk is shifting to the 2012 election, in which a rematch may be in the offing between U.S. Sen. Jim Webb and the man he narrowly defeated, former U.S. Sen. George Allen.
Webb said in an interview this week that he has not made up his mind.
"In terms of my running again, I'm not saying I'm not," Webb said. "I just want to do this with the right kind of deliberation.
"What a lot of people forget is, we're not simply talking about two years from now. We're talking about eight years from now. It's a big family decision."
Meanwhile, Allen, a one-term senator who lost in 2006 to Webb by 9,300 votes out of the 2.37 million votes cast, is edging closer to making his plans known.
Allen made numerous public appearances around the state as he campaigned for candidates in this fall's contests but said he wouldn't discuss his plans until after the Nov. 2 elections.
He said in a statement Thursday that "we've received so much encouragement to run. With the elections behind us we are seriously considering such a campaign and plan to make a decision in the short term."
Webb said he's not certain when he'll decide, but acknowledged he cannot wait too long.
"I'm not going to stretch this out for a long period of time, because... obviously, it takes a lot of energy in terms of fund raising and those types of things when you decide to run. We'll reach a decision.... I'm not in the same kind of hurry that everybody seems to be."
What is for certain, Webb said, is that he will remain a Democrat. He had served under Republican President Ronald Reagan as secretary of the Navy from 1987 to 1988.
"I'm not leaving the Democratic Party," he said. "I ran as a Democrat because I believe the long-term history of the Democratic Party has been as a party taking care of working people."
As the chief sponsor of a new GI Bill that was signed into law, Webb said he's "really proud" of his work in the Senate.
"I think we have done a lot of good for people in Virginia and I think we've done a lot of good for the country," he said.
Allen, who served as governor before being elected to the Senate in 2000, has indicated that he wants 2012's contest to continue the Republican wave that gave the GOP control of the U.S. House.
"I've been saying the elections this year and in 2012 will determine the trajectory of our country for years to come - whether we continue declining or begin to ascend," he said.
A poll of Virginia voters released Wednesday found that if the two men competed in 2012, Webb would have a narrow lead over Allen. However, Webb would fare much better if he were running against two other Republicans, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli or Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, the poll found.
Webb held leads of 49 percent to 45 percent over Allen, 49-39 over Cuccinelli, and 49-38 over Bolling, according to Public Policy Polling. The survey of 551 voters taken Nov. 10-13 has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
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not again
Why on Earth could anyone entertain the idea of Allen represnting Va in any shape or form. He was a terrible Governor. Racist also. Can't the great GOP come up with new blood? Heck, you got the car-salesman who thinks a 3'rd party isn't in the best interest of the people elected. How comforting it is to have him deciding for us. Now the best you can do to combat Web is Allen? Seems to me, the GOP shouldn't have turned their backs on him when he was a Republican. He showed them that people care more for merrit and not party affiliation. No..wait...that can't be right..this state is very fickle. Reminds me of the old professional wrestlers. We get what we deserve at the polls. The whole political scene is too funny to take seriously anymore.
If you want my vote
then start enacting policies that promote job growth! 90% of all of our other problems will show marked improvement when the vast majority of us are employed.
If you want my vote
then start enacting policies that promote job growth! 90% of all of our other problems will show marked improvement when the vast majority of us are employed.
Apologies for the double post
I must have double clicked the mouse.
Senate
Run, George, Run!!!! We must dump the turncoat Jim Webb. I don't trust him as far as I can throw my gas-guzzling SUV. You can never trust a man who turns his back on the party that gave him his face-value......dump the jerk!
Direction of the Commonwealth
Will reveal itself in 2011. If the Democrats do poorly in the Virginia mid-terms, I think Webb won't run.
I'd prefer the Republicans nominate someone other than Allen; the only thing George has going for him is than his Senate seniority comes back. Why is a carrier going to Mayport, 2FLT being mothballed, and JFCOM closing? Not anything Glenn Nye (or anyone else in the House) did. Virginia has a very junior Senate delegation. Even though they're in the majority party, they might as well not be there at all.
Yawn
The Nov 2 election wore us out. Give 2012 politics a rest. I am not interested in hearing much about it until later in 2011.
Decorated Combat Vet vs. Macaca Man - No Choice There
When it comes to Senator Webb, he is a Virginian first, American Second, family man next and the party affiliation falls well behind other concerns although he holds tightly to that tag for evidently what the party once was. Webb serves this Commonwealth with honor and purpose and his beliefs hold form. What would the Macaca man offer, more of the same debris and chaos spread across the state when governor? Should Senator Webb decide to run for another term, my vote will be his. Only smirks and laughter for Mr. Macaca.
two years of this???
Two years of the POLITICS OF PERSONAL DESTRUCTION????????
Is there no shame?
two years of campaign commercials??
Do we need to start the 2012 campaign now?
If we identify the candidates now, their opponents will give us two years of personal destruction. We may get to know that in the third grade candidate XYZ didn't turn in her homework.
Isn't it too early to figure out who to vote FOR instead of prepping of who to vote against?