Veterans Abandoning Allen?

By: Lowell
Published On: 8/17/2006 5:55:44 AM

From today's Daily Press:

The evening was billed as a "veterans for Allen" rally, but the hotel's conference room was less than half-filled, even after a phone push for a larger turnout. Veterans came from as far away as Colonial Heights, but their numbers were little greater than the reporters and camera people who were there.

As it was, the rally started 10 minutes late and finished more than 20 minute early, according to a campaign worker's schedule.

Is this a sign of things to come for George Allen?  If so, he's in deep DEEP trouble this November 7.

Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign.  The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not necessarily represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.

Comments



I have some questions about this (Doug Garnett-Deakin - 8/17/2006 7:27:05 AM)
Until the 2004 Presidential race I really didn't get involved with the politics of fund raising, signage, talking to friends and family, etc., but since then I feel like I've just gotten a tiny flavor of how rallies, fund raising and volunteering works. Now following RK and NLS online I'm really starting to get a very confused, but humorous look into all the workings of a hot race. So, what I pick up from this story that I would love to hear more about from Lowell and those who have done this much longer than me and understand much better than me (oh, and I'd love to hear the wingnuts on here chime in too- those make me surprise my fellow workers at lunch with my laughs and blurts) are the following:

1) McCain is a really big name in national politics- a heavyweight in getting groups out to rallies, I would think, and good sized donors just below Cheney and Mr. and Mrs. Bush (sort of still first tier, just not quite as inciting to the base). Is this the case, or is he much lower down on the draw, especially in VA?
2) McCain is very popular with the military, as he should be, and all families and associated workers one would expect at a rally like this. Is this the case?
3) This particular event, it seems to me, was not poorly attended because of the recent macaca video, but rather the Iraq and other policy decisions. Does that sound right?
4) If McCain had come stumping for Allen in this area in say 2002 the crowd would have been huge, in the hundreds. Does that sound right?
5) The Blacksburg events I've seen and the ones I've read about online in other areas with just Jim giving a talk and some Q&A (and with short notice before the event I might add!) tend to draw 80 folks easily- one in blacksburg before the primary did so with two days notice. Is that normal? Or is that folks following this closely and being motivated to get out and hear Jim?
6) There was much debate as to effectiveness of fundraising even by the big guns for the Republicans- claims of a Bush dinner I believe in June netting over a million for the RNC, but financial disclosure for that month not supporting that claim. Has this been followed up on? Does it show a trend that their car is out of gas and they are coasting downhill toward November?

Anyway, sorry for all the questions, it's just so striking that McCain could not draw a crowd.



Answers (Lowell - 8/17/2006 7:41:43 AM)
1) Yes, normally McCain is a big draw.
2) Yes, one would expect.
3) Yes, that's almost certainly right
4) Yes.  Much has changed since 2002.
5) Jim said the other day that he's bringing out 1 1/2 to two times the number of people the campaign's been expecting at events.  There's obviously something going on here in Virginia this year, and it's not good news for George Allen!
6) Good question; I'm nots sure but I expect this might be the case based on overall fundraising numbers I've seen from the DSCC, RSCC, DCCC, RCCC, etc.


Thanks Lowell! (Doug Garnett-Deakin - 8/17/2006 7:58:13 AM)
Number three is really great to hear. The last few days have been funny and disturbing, but I felt like number 3 was based on Iraq worsening and Allen's track record on veteran issues.

Five is also just fantastic to hear.



The Washington Post also has a story... (Steven J. Berke - 8/17/2006 9:11:09 AM)
http://www.washingto...

...which is much less negative about the Allen event than the Daily Press story (nothing about the half-filled room or the monkey joke).  The second half of the Post story is a detailed account of Jim Webb's speech in Arlington yesterday.



RE: Was wondering (JPTERP - 8/17/2006 9:52:38 AM)
About that. 

Was this one of those $2,000 per person things? 
Maybe people are on vacation--you know late summer? 
Maybe it wasn't George but Thelma Drake that drove down attendance? 

Maybe people are starting to get embarrased by affiliating themselves with George Allen?



Just George (DukieDem - 8/17/2006 2:51:31 PM)
The dismal numbers at this event belonged to Geoge and George alone. When McCain can't help you turn out veterans, you're having a very bad week. Or maybe Dick Wadhams buddy Karl Rove did too good a job savaging McCain in 2000 that some veterans think he's a mole for the North Vietnamese.


I was there (Vivian J. Paige - 8/17/2006 3:49:25 PM)
and I can promise you it wasn't a $2,000 per person thing. It was just poorly attended. And not just by the rank and file. The only elected R there was Frank Wagner.


Whatever the reason, (summercat - 8/17/2006 11:02:02 AM)
I was delighted to hear about the low turnout for McCain-Allen.  Kepp those low numbers coming, George F.!


VETERANS AGAINST ALLEN (drmontoya - 8/17/2006 11:22:27 PM)
There's a reason Allen got a low turnout in his Veterans For Allen photo-op event in Norfolk With John McCain.

Here's why:

I know for a FACT for a fact.

I had this conversation with Jim, and he knows...

Polls and pundits aren't counting the defense vote.

There is ALOT of military or prior military that have given me a word of advice for Dems.

"We won't vote for any liberal, but we sure as hell will vote for Webb" --A Navy Retired Captian

"I remember Jim Webb, when he was SECNAV.. I liked him then I like him now, if Zinni endorsed him he's got my vote and I bet a lot more marines" --A retired Marine Colonel, heads a national org, and brother of a recent new Marine General.

"Jim Webb fought for us when I was an aviator on a secret mission in the gulf, he demanded the right gear for us then and I never lost respect for him. He's got my vote"
--A retired Navy Captian

"I know Jim Webb quite well, I know he's got my vote. I'd have to say he's always impressed me" --Retired Naval Officer, Current Senior Defense Spokesperson

I don't want to say names to protect people, but even Bush apointees that live in Virginia are going to vote for webb.

There's a reason it's so quiet over at the "VETERANS FOR ALLEN" camp.

Because there may not be come November.

I know, I am one of them.