It isn’t even Labor Day, but the Virginia Senate race is already looking like it will turn out to be a nasty one.
RICHMOND — The campaign staff of Sen. George Allen (R) describes his Democratic opponent, James Webb, as a Hollywood elitist running a “joke” of a campaign. They call him “Junior.”
Webb’s team implies that Allen is a rich jock with a fondness for dude ranches and a weird middle name. They call him “Felix.”
The election is more than three months away, but the two campaigns are locked in an increasingly nasty effort to characterize the other before voters form their own impressions.
The mean statements aren’t coming directly from Webb or Allen, who have tried to stay above the fray. But their strategists, press release writers and spokespeople have been lobbing insults and carefully scripted zingers that they hope will stick to their opponent until the Nov. 7 election.
Some examples of the juvenile behavior we’re seeing from the Allen and Webb camps:
Last week, Webb sent out a news release mocking Allen’s effort to create an “American Cowboy Day” instead of sponsoring a bill in Congress to make it easier for Iraq war veterans to pay for college. In a debate earlier, Allen had said he wouldn’t introduce a new G.I. Bill because the Senate moves too slowly.
The release — titled “Yee Ha” — was littered with stereotypes of how cowboys speak.
“Well listen up there missy! Galloping George Allen, has went and made a bill in that there Amerrycan Congriss! And we’ll be darned tootin, if it ain’t a legislatin aimed square at us cowpokes! . . . YEE HA Pardner! We’re bustin with so much pride our chaps are chaffing!”
It continued, “Seems this Counterfeit California Cowboy went and named Ju-lie 22nd as the big day so load your ivory handled six guns, strap on your Sunday spurs, and head to town for the most ro otinin tootinin sell-ee-bray-shun we’ve seen in these parts since Wild Bill rode to town with Potato Creek Johnny and begun the gamblin’ trade in these parts.”
and….
Dick Wadhams, Allen’s campaign manager, is just as aggressive in his characterizations of Webb, who trails Allen in fundraising and polls.
Wadhams has grown fond of calling Webb’s candidacy “pathetic.”
“Hollywood movie producer and wealthy novelist James H. Webb Jr. knows nothing about Virginia, and he demonstrates it every day,” Wadhams said in a recent interview.
Last week, after Webb called on Allen to return the oil industry contributions, Wadhams pointed out that Webb owns $64,000 of stock in Exxon-Mobil and Chevron. Wadhams then called Webb “a flaming hypocrite” who is also a “wealthy movie producer.”
Two weeks ago, after Webb was forced to admit at a debate that he wasn’t sure where Portsmouth’s Craney Island was, Wadhams said the Democrat “doesn’t have much of a grasp on reality.”
“Senator Allen has been dealing with facts for the last 20 years, and James H. Webb Jr. has been writing books, making movies, making fiction,” Wadhams said.
Here’s a tip to both campaigns. Stop acting like children and start telling Virginians why they should vote for your candidate.
