Time: About 5 p.m., Saturday, November 4.
Place: A CITGO station on West Broad Street, Richmond.
Scenario: I'm putting gas in my car (Civic Hybrid, but you still gotta fill up sometime!), which has bumper stickers for Jim Webb and Al Weed (even though I live in Arlington). On the other side of the pumps, an elderly white man is doing the same--he's in his 70s, I'd say, with a rich Tidewater accent, and thus of the generation that grew up in segregated, ultraconservative Virginia. He's looking at my bumper stickers, and I'm thinking: uh-oh, with all my stereotypes at the ready. . . .
But guess what? He says, "It's certainly time for a change, isn't it? We're in such a mess, and we can do better; we have to do better. We need to make a big change on Tuesday. . . ." --and so on, as energetically supportive and friendly as could be.
We chatted about the political situation for several minutes, and as I drove away, I almost didn't need that tank of gas to get going. Because this gentleman (and he seemed like a real gentleman), who by all indications should be a solid Allen voter, is voting for Jim Webb today!!!
Folks, this thing may really be happening!!!
Thanks.