Virginia ended up being the closest thing the Democratic Party had to a “blue state” in the South in the 2004 election. It was a trend I had noted in glancing over the polls. I have no clue how good a governor he was, and I have no clue how good a Democrat he was, but former governor Mark Warner is now sort of in second place behind Hillary Clinton in the unofficial Democratic Primary race. I get a funny feeling Warner may end up being Hillary Clinton’s running mate, and as a political matter, it probably is a winner. (Note I’m not saying it’d be good for the country, but it is what it is.)

The front-runners for the Republican Party would be John McCain and … Virginia Senator George Allen. George Allen looks basically like the reincarnation of the current occupant of the White House. Recently, he sounded a very serious gaffe that shows he’s not altogether up on the details of Washington.

Ben S. Bernanke, nominated for the chairman of the Federal Reserve to succeed Greenspan…
Here is what Senator George Allen of Virginia, who is considering a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, said when asked his opinion of the Bernanke nomination.

Told that Mr. Bernanke was up for the Fed chairman’s job, Mr. Allen hedged a little, said he had not been focused on it, and wondered aloud when the hearings would be. Told that the Senate Banking Committee hearings had concluded in November, the senator responded: “You mean I missed them all? I paid no attention to them.”

At any rate, George Allen now has a challenger. It is what it is — the biography alone shows that James Webb would be on the right end of the Democratic Senate Caucus:

James Webb, who served as President Ronald Reagan’s Navy secretary, said Tuesday that he will seek the Democratic nomination to run against U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) this year, hoping to challenge the one-term incumbent on foreign policy and the conduct of the war in Iraq.

But if you want to know why he will be good for the Senate, and why beyond just wanting to get rid of George Allen’s political fortunes he’s a good guy:

In 1994, Webb endorsed Sen. Charles S. Robb (D-Va.) for reelection over
retired Marine Lt. Col. Oliver L. North, calling North a chronic liar.

Ba da bing Ba da boom! On the other hand:

Six years later, Webb switched sides, endorsing Allen, the man he now hopes to beat. At the time, Webb said Allen was “better on issues of national
security” than Robb was.

Take it for what it means.

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