SWEET VIRGINIA

Dr. A is from the Commonwealth of Virgina and we have friends and family up the wazoo there so I think of it as my third home state. (California and Louisiana are the others.) Once upon a time, Virginia was the red states' red state but a funny thing has happened in recent years, it's been trending Democratic. It's now best described as a purple state but Northern Virginia is blue, blue, blue, which is why some Virginians call it part of the Northeast and they're not far wrong.

There's a lot of political ferment in the Old Dominion this year and it looks as if a blue tide could sweep the state. Former Governor Mark Warner is a heavy favorite to replace John (no relation) Warner in the US Senate. Senator Warner is one of the last of the old school moderate-conservative Republicans left. He's served with distinction over the years and he's known for his integrity and sense of fair play. In 1996 when winger pinhead Woody Jenkins challenged Mary Landrieu's victory in a painfully close Senate race, John Warner chaired the committee that found no fraud and seated her. And Lakeview wept...

Back to the 2008 Senate race. The Virginia Republican party held a nominating convention this year instead of a primary. It was, of course, dominated by right wing activists and chose conservative former Governor Jim Gilmore over an even wingnuttier candidate. The distinguished Republican Senior Senator is declining to support the dimwitted Gilmore as his successor even though Mark Warner was his opponent in 1996. In short, Virginia is on the verge of having two Democratic Senators for the first time since the bad old days of segregation. The times they are surely a changin'...

Finally, Senator Obama is campaigning in Virginia today with Mark Warner, Governor Tim Kaine and Senator Jim Webb today. Webb has been widely mentioned as a possible running mate and recently made some  interesting comments about Barack and poor whites at the Huff Post.

tags: politics  2008  election  obama  webb  senate  virginia  

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