I had read in the Richmond Free Press a few weeks ago that Rep. Bobby Scott had endorsed Jim Webb along with the Legislative Black Caucus. Today, I read that the endorsement is public and official.From the Daily Press:
U.S. Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Newport News, the state's only African-American congressman, formally endorsed Webb on Tuesday. Scott called Webb "an early warning voice against the war in Iraq."Nice.
Read on....
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, George Allen is trying to "court the minority vote" (which is just offensive on its own, in my opinion) but he isn't having much luck. Why? People aren't showing up to events.
WOODBRIDGE -- For a Republican senator recovering from charges of racial insensitivity, Tuesday's breakfast at the Old Country Buffet seemed an opportune setting.WOW. That sounds like George Allen's offensive "ethnic rally," which turns out was neither ethnic or successful.Sen. George Allen stopped by to pick up a community service award from the Frederick Douglas Republican Forum, a small, three-year-old multi-racial group whose aim is to woo African Americans to the Republican Party and to elect more black Republicans.
But when fewer than 30 people showed up, including only a handful of African-Americans, the challenge for Allen was clear: competing for the black vote against Democratic challenger Jim Webb would not be easy.
Both George Allen and Jim Webb will speak at the NAACP convention this Friday evening. I'm pretty sure I know who will get more applause.
Allen and Webb will make public appeals for the black vote again Friday night in Hampton in separate appearances before the state NAACP convention. Each man will get about an hour to speak and take questions, a NAACP aide said.And what is most excellent is that more amd more citizens of the Commonwealth and members of the media are starting to get a grip and understand that Webb is RIGHT on the issue of Affirmative action.With the Senate contest in a virtual dead heat, support from African-Americans voters could be critical in places like Hampton Roads, a key battleground region.
Webb, a former Navy secretary, initially lost some support for having once equated affirmative action programs to "state-sponsored racism." He has said he supports affirmative action for African-Americans but believes diversity programs that encompass other minority groups should also include poor whites.Webb's plans for the weekend? HUGE. Allen's? Well, he did something LAST weekend, does that count?
Webb plans to spend most of this weekend seeking the black vote in Hampton Roads, including visits to as many as 14 churches on Sunday. Allen attended a Hampton University football game last weekend.Lastly, I get a sense that a Wilder endorsement may be coming up in the very near future for Jim Webb. Just a hunch, and this article makes me feel a bit more confident.
Allen had expected to appear Tuesday in Richmond with Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, the nation's first elected black governor, but Wilder canceled plans to attend and sent a top aide instead.Looks like things are shaping up just fine for a Democratic takeover here in Virginia. At 21 days out, I am feeling pretty good. And I am definitely feeling better than Dick Wadhams, who is about to know what unemployment feels like. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm; I love the smell of fear and desperation in the morning, how about you?