Webb wins Big!

By: NoVA Democrat
Published On: 3/17/2006 2:00:00 AM


NoVADemocrat and The Richmond Democrat

BREAKING NEWS:

WEBB WINS THE STRAW POLL AT GERRY CONNOLLY'S ST.PATRICK'S DAY EVENT WITH 58% OF THE VOTE!!

Update: Turns out Gerry Connolly was calling attendees all week lobbying them to vote for Miller, which makes this win so much more impressive for Webb!

Update 2: The Vote was 196 for Webb and 143 for Miller.

Virginia Centrist said before the vote:

This event is in the heart of Harris Miller territory. FCDC members will be there, and Miller was the FCDC president 15 years ago (although he didn't attend a single meeting between circa 1991 and 2006.)

If Webb is able to pull off the upset today, this will be a bad sign for Miller's campaign.

and after the result came in:

Harris Miller's showing at Gerry Connolly's event was pathetic. Webb won at the most pro-Miller venue outside of Miller's house.

But this is only the beginning of his pathetic campaign.

For the next 2 months, Democrats will be treated to a constant barage of negative mail from Miller. He's going to cherry pick Webb statements from his days as a Republican in order to smear him.

Webb can bask in this victory. He is now the favorite to win the Democratic primary in June. But it is very important that he raises the cash to defend himself against an onslaught of desperate Miller attacks.

Brian Patton says now:

Harris Miller seems like a nice guy, but I think this will probably finish off his bid for the nomination.

Ben Tribbett says:

Since this vote was being held at Gerry Connolly's event, in Harris Miller's best possible crowd, Harris should withdrawl and allow the real campaign to begin.

UPDATE: Please, Please, Please dont let us get off the ball here. Below are some volunteer opportunities, so you can help make James Webb the next US Senator from the Great Commonwealth of Virginia.

If you live in Arlington:

Petition-signing opportunity in Arlington County:  Sun Mar 19 2pm-5pm
at Central Public Library (near Virginia Square Metro Stop) 1015 N.
Quincy St.  Town Hall Meeting: Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment.
Lots of likely Webb supporters should be there to sign our petitions. 
Contact Mary Detweiler 703-532-0929 if you can help.

If you live in Richmond:

What: Petition drive for James Webb for U.S. Senate

Where: The corner of 17th Street and E. Main Street in Richmond, Virginia

Contact: jcwilmore@msn.com

When: March 18, 2006 from 11:45 AM until 6:00 PM

If you live in Virginia Beach:

Signature Hunt at the Shamrock Marathon. See www.shamrockmarathon.com for details. Call Susan Mariner at 757-640-8388 for details on signature efforts in 2nd Congressional District. 7AM-3PM Sunday.

If you live in Fredericksburg:

What: Fredericksburg St. Pat's Parade & Festival

Where: Fredericksburg: along Caroline St, downtown area

When: Sunday 1-3

James Webb to be Grand Marshal -- as Vietnam War hero, author, filmmaker. "Today" show superstar Anthony Campbell, plus musicians and paraders, to be there. Great place to get Petition Forms signed!




Comments



A fitting win for We (angry_engineer - 4/4/2006 11:33:56 PM)
A fitting win for Webb on St. Patrick's Day! I've been blogging and emailing heavily about Webb's performance on Hardball and DailyKos. I'm sure that Webb's comments made more of an impact than Miller's nice new campaign web site (which still has very little of substance). I'll be sipping Jim Beam "Green" tonite and wishing James Webb all the best. Harris Miller is one I'll never forgive nor forget; the Irish curse on him and his cronies at the ITAA!


With you 110% on tha (Ken C. - 4/4/2006 11:33:57 PM)
With you 110% on that J.C. See you tomorrow with a table. Let me know on the memos.
Ken


Tomorrow I'm going t (Mimi Schaeffer - 4/4/2006 11:33:57 PM)
Tomorrow I'm going to a Fauquier Democratic soiree and Webb will there.  I can't wait to take the temperature of Democrats in the foothills of the  Blue Ridge Mountains.

Oh; and meet him for the very first time.



What J.C. said. Plea (ajacied - 4/4/2006 11:33:57 PM)
What J.C. said. Please, please, please, please go out tomorrow and gather petition signatures. Share our success with signers, etc. Contribute time, money, phone calls, whatever you can to the Webb effort. We need your help now more than yesterday because Harris Miller's campaign staff won't rest.

Cheers,
RM.RF.GWB



Keep your eye on the (JC - 4/4/2006 11:33:57 PM)
Keep your eye on the ball: get out to events and collect petition signatures to ensure Jim's on the ballot.  Don't get complacent.  We had a big win tonight, now let's exploit that win tomorrow and Sunday at all the events we attend.


With you 100% on tha (Ken C. - 4/4/2006 11:33:57 PM)
With you 100% on that.  It would make me ready to help Miller in the future in a strong way. I just hope he sees things the way Thegools hopes. It would be the right thing to do for the party.
Ken C 


Let's hope Miller st (the Gools - 4/4/2006 11:33:57 PM)
Let's hope Miller stays in the race and focuses on tearing Allen a new one.  (He could be a great asset to Webb and the dems if he keeps it focused on Allen not Webb.)

The candidates could use the free publicity even if Webb is certain to win the nomination.  Miller could use the attention for a future statewide bid.



Man this is HUGE! J (Ken C. - 4/4/2006 11:33:57 PM)
Man this is HUGE!  Jim goes into the “belly of the beast” as a huge underdog in Miller’s House and runs him!!!  Seems like Miller never had much of a base.  Democrat’s want to win, now let’s go “seal the deal” decisively and get ready to rumble with the “Urban Cowboy”. 
Ken C


F.T.: There's no ba (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:33:58 PM)
F.T.:  There's no bashing here, in my opinion.  Miller is a good Democrat worthy of our support in all of his future endeavors. I personally had a very nice chat with one of Miller's staffers last night, where we both agreed that we'd be on the same side, all working hard together in the next few months.

I will say it clearly right here and right now: I praise Harris Miller for his long-term dedicated service to the Democratic Party and to the Party's candidates.  Harris Miller is a good man.  Having said that, it's been clear to many of us since January or even earlier that Jim Webb is the ONLY candidate who can defeat George Allen, the George W. Bush "mini-me" who apparently supports war, debt, and a weaker America.  No thanks.

Regarding "premature jubilation," we are fully aware that we've got a LONG way to go and a great deal of work to do in order to win the primary and defeat George Allen.  That's why we're working our butts off to get Jim Webb around this state and to raise $300,000 in 3 weeks for Webb.  Please join us in this movement for a New Politics - and a New Day - in America.  Thank you.



Obviously, Webb's po (F. T. Rea - 4/4/2006 11:33:58 PM)
Obviously, Webb's position has improved. That’s excellent. I’m glad.

However, taking this one little bit of validation -- a straw poll -- as permission for Webb’s supporters to bash Miller and his somewhat grumpy camp with new vigor, well, it isn't going to help Webb later against Allen. It could hurt. Don’t forget about reality -- for Webb to defeat Allen in November he will need a big Democratic turnout, a good number of independents, plus some progressive Republicans.

A flamboyant former VCU basketball coach, Dana Kirk, used to warn his players against what he called "premature jubilation." 



Ken C. The speech w (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:33:58 PM)
Ken C.  The speech was very well received throughout, stopped several times for loud applause and cheers.  I'm not sure if it was recorded, except in all our memories... :)


Well said, as to Mil (Ken C. - 4/4/2006 11:33:58 PM)
Well said, as to Miller, and his supporters . Wish I could've heard the speech.  How was the speech received at the end?  Strong clapping, cheers, standing O?

Wonder if it was recorded and will be posted?

If Miller wants to run as Jim's Perot like he aided Clinton's first campaign against Bush, or Kaines Potts to Kilgore, might do a world of good looking toward the general.
Ken C 



I was wrong. I ad (Josh - 4/4/2006 11:33:58 PM)
I was wrong.

I admit it.  Dat be some yummy crow...  Extra mustard next time.

There's a lot of talk about Miller bowing out.  I'm undecided.

Fair competition is a good thing.  For me, the goal is to replace George Allen.  Nobody's convinced me that Harris Miller can do it.

Before tonight I would have argued against Miller dropping out on the basis that Webb needs to hone his public speaking...  That went away tonight.

Webb's speech tonight was compelling.  All of the other candidates had to compete with clattering plates and side conversations, but
when James Webb started talking about "service", about his family
serving as far back as the Revolutionary War, about his own service and his son who is likely to be deployed to the Middle East...

Man, you coulda heard a pin drop.

When James Webb said that he would not cede any part of the Commonwealth to George Allen, you could feel that excitement in your
gut.  Every one of us felt it.  This was really impressive.

There are arguments to be had about whether Miller should stay in, but we all need to stay on point, get the petitions in, get contributions for Webb and make sure that we don't go overboard and alienate the good people who are supporting Harris Miller.  That man has made a huge contribution and he has played a pretty fair game up to this point.  If he does leave this race, I hope Democrats will stand to support him when he runs again.



Heh, wonder if Josh (Craig - 4/4/2006 11:33:58 PM)
Heh, wonder if Josh would like a little crow breast en croute.  He predicted a 3-2 or even a 2-1 Miller win.

In other news, Dewey defeats Truman and Rossi defeats Greigore



I like Miller fine, (Craig - 4/4/2006 11:33:58 PM)
I like Miller fine, really, but I don't think he'd do so well against Allen, and apparently my native county's party think so too.

Just remember to get signatures people.

And one more thing: if Miller actually attacks Webb, it'll probably make Miller look worse while also cheapening his stock in the state party.  So I sincerely hope he doesn't do it, for his and the party's sake.