Jim Webb with John Kerry

By: teacherken
Published On: 6/12/2006 5:55:06 PM

After having taken a redeye from Las Vegas, spent the better part of a day at school, I went to Webb headquarters in Arlington Virginia for a rally with Jim and John Kerry.  If I had more time, I would upload some of the pictures and give a far more detailed description.  But I want to emphasize only a few key points from this rally.  Please look below the fold for what I have to offer.
There was a lot  of press there.  Not only local television, but Chris Cillizza of WashingtonPost.com (like me just back from Vegas) and John Harwood of the Wall Street Journal but in his capacity of also working with MSNBC.  The stage was full of local politicians, including from Arlington Treasurer Frank O+óGé¼GäóLeary, Commissioner of the Revenue Ingrid Morroy, School Board member Libby Garvey, and County Board member Jay Fisette.  The introducer was former Congresswoman and LT Governor nominee State Senator Leslie Byrne, who pointed out that she was the first official in N Virginia to endorse Webb.  Leslie said she wanted to keep it short so that we could get back to GOTV.  She introduced John Kerry.

Sen. Kerry readily acknowledged that he and Jim had had differences several decades ago over Vietnam, but that even back then he had respected Jim.  He lauded Webb for opposing the war,and for being a forthright defender of the the American Worker.  Since I did not take notes, I cannot offer specifics.  He was emphasizing why we needed Jim Webb to defeat George Allen.  The one clever line was to the effect that when Jim wrote fiction it was in a novel, but when Allen offered fiction it was in his failed promises to the voters.

After being introduced by Kerry, Webb came up.  The most effective moment of his remarks came when he noted that he had been accused of opposing diversity.  He then introduced one daughter+óGé¼Gäós long-time Hispanic boyfriend and his wife Hong, who is Vietnamese.  He said words to the effect of +óGé¼+ôMr. Miller, I know diversity.+óGé¼-¥

I had the opportunity of watching and listening to Jim interact with the press.  There was one exchange with a crew from a tv station that was particularly noteworthy.  When asked about differences between himself and Harris Miller, he said that the voters would have to decide whether they wanted a leader like Truman or John  Kennedy who knew how to make decisions and how to pick good people upon whom they could rely or if instead they wanted a staff person.  I spoke with the reporter afterwards and she volunteered that it was a very effective soundbite.

Jim decided to enter the race at the end of February.  It is not yet 4 full months.  At the beginning he was not as effective a candidate as many of use would have liked.  But he is a very bright man, and he has improved as a candidate by leaps and bounds.

I expect that this event  will provide a lot of free media for Jim, perhaps enough to ensure the race.

People around headquarters are optimistic but working very hard.  There were so many volunteers to make calls that they were out of phones, so I loaned someone my cell phone while I was at the rally.

A number of volunteers were going with signs to a metro station where Miller was due to appear.  Many others are leafleting at other Metro stations.  Many of us have brought home phone sheets to make calls -- I have 165 to do in the next few hours.

In 25 hours the polls will have closed.  By an hour after that it should be clear if the race is a lopsided victory for Webb, or is a close race that could be won by either man.  My sense of the atmospherics is that it is more towards the former.  Republican party officials are discouraging Repubs from crossing over to vote, warning that participation in a Democratic primary this cycle might lead to disqualification in Republican party activities.  There will be some crossover, but it is possible that much of it will be for Webb.

This is all I have time for.  I have to drink some coffee and make my calls.  Only then can I finally get some sleep.

Peace.


Comments



Thanks for the great synopsis n/t (Alicia - 6/12/2006 6:20:37 PM)


How many people were there? (thegools - 6/12/2006 6:56:51 PM)
I'd have been there except that leaving my wife to take care of kids and house, alone, would not have gone over that well.


something over 200 (teacherken - 6/12/2006 10:36:48 PM)
perhaps 2 dozen of whom were press


KEVIN SCHMIDT (kestrel9000 - 6/12/2006 7:20:16 PM)
THE GUY WITH THE STUCK CAPLOCK IS WORKING DAILY KOS
GIT 'IM


And Kos has (Mark - 6/12/2006 7:22:03 PM)
a front-pager up all about Webb's campaign. Go there.


Washingtonpost Story + Wapo Blog (loboforestal - 6/12/2006 7:22:47 PM)
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/06/va_senate_kerry_and_webb_mend.html


yep - I'm in Chris C's online story (teacherken - 6/12/2006 10:38:01 PM)
I had seen him at yearlykos but we hadn't talked out there.  We chatted a bit, and I pointed him at several people who could explain the grassroots effort to get Jim to run.


Interesting (Dan - 6/12/2006 7:39:53 PM)
From what I can tell, with expected turnout and the polls I have seen, Webb should be clear by 10-15,000 votes.  I doubt too many Republicans voting for Miller will close that gap.  Ultimately, this looks like Webb should win by 5,000-10,000 votes.  This is based on my observation of what I have seen in polls and reactions by those I have met.  If Northern Virginia is tied, Webb will win.


Who was there? (loboforestal - 6/12/2006 7:47:47 PM)
If anybody was there, tell us what it was like.  What media was there?  Any pics?


Kos endorses Webb !!! (loboforestal - 6/12/2006 7:53:09 PM)
http://dailykos.com/