anyone got a link for this deer in the mailbox story?  I haven't read anything about it.

I agree with you, Matt. Webb has just thrown Allen a lifeline:

Democratic Senate challenger Jim Webb declined to say definitively Tuesday whether he had ever used a common derogatory term to describe Blacks, stepping carefully after watching his campaign rival confront charges of racism.

"I don't think that there's anyone who grew up around the South that hasn't had the word pass through their lips at one time or another in their life," Webb told reporters.

Heh. "Word is from someone I know" stuff. Getting people's hopes up that Allen will quit a race he is leading, only to utterly disappoint and distract everyone when it doesn't happen.

I'll believe it when I see it.

C'mon Webb, WTF??? This is the Richmond Times-Dispatch's account of the Webb interview from yesterday afternoon:

Webb yesterday declined to question Allen's character given the most recent allegations. "I don't really know him that well. I did vote for him in 2000," he said.

Webb endorsed Allen in the closing days of that Senate race. Asked yesterday if Allen's previous opposition to a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and Allen's Confederate heritage month proclamation as governor had given him pause at that time, Webb said no.He said his endorsement then centered on national-security issues. Allen's proclamation generated controversy because it did not mention blacks or the sacrifices of those who fought against slavery and for the union of the country.

"I don't really know him that well"? That's a really, really disappointing answer from Webb.

Webb is trying to appear above the fray, but its a dumb move. He so busy trying not to offend that he's missing opportunities to solidify the gains that he is making with peo who maybe giving him a first look. I hope it doesn't hurt him that he refused to go full throtle attack. It's not enough to define yourself- you just define your opponent too- and here he defines Allen as someone peo should be okay with in terms of charcter- when  in fact most peo will make their decision probably on character and emotions. Diffusion of any of the emotions is a mistake.

Webb is protecting his heinie.

If he comes out and says: "I never used that word in my life," some diehard wingnut wiill swiftboat him and call him out.

What he should have said was:

"I regerst that I probably did at some point when I was younger and more follish. It is one of the greatest regrets I have in my life that I ever used such language, and never spoke out against it at the time.

If I ever uttered that word, in any context other than to condemn it, I am deeply sorry, and understand who wrong it was then, and is now.

I am a different person now, than I was then."

Wishful thinking.  Allen is not going to drop out of the race although he has clearly suffered damage from all of the goings on.  There are 5 weeks to election day which is an eternity in politics.  Lots could happen b/w now and then.

Been watching Allen since he first ran for public office. I've been his constituent or, as he might say, subject, for every year he's been a legislator or executive. Let me say boldly that the man has had one unwavering principle:

George Allen is entitled to a better job.

You will have to spatula George Allen's hands from the levers of power. His ritual suicide before the grave of J.E.B. Stuart in Richmond's Hollywood Cememtery? That's more believable than his quitting the race. The only way he'd quite is if the national Republicans' Party put a figurative (or literal) gun to his head or enormous bribe in his hands.

Webb has got to get better talking points or something. I am tired of him agreeing with Allen at debates and now he's ok with Allen's character. Webb is going to lose this election himself. How can Allen quit the race? Doesn't he have presidential ambitions? Quitting would ruin his chance. Let's not let these rumors distract us.  

Allen will not abandon the Senate race, unless something much worse is revealed.  Abandoning the race would be a face-losing admission that he is a racist.  Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for Webb and Dems), we will have Allen to kick around at least thougth November.

Do not believe those rumours. Allen (R-VA) is indeed in big trouble but his ego would forbid resigning. As would the GOP party because if he resigns, wouln't that give Gov. Kaine (D-VA) the chance to appoint a Democrat to the seat?

Even this rumour actually helps Webb I'd say.

It will be interesting to see how quickly and voiciferously Allen denies this.  Any hesitation on his part would confirm he considered it.

It would make sense for him to have considered the option at least - he wants to be president, better to withdraw from the race undefeated than go down electorally in a self-inflicted disaster.

Though, realistically he can't take the option.  for his presidential aspirations to have any chance, he needs to win this and win convincingly.  51-49 won't do at all.  Withdrawing to save his powder won't save him either.

But the rumour does help webb's supporters and hurt allen's.

I just want to remind everyone that Mark Warner turned down the opportunity to run for this seat. When I was canvassing a Republicans' Party precint last year for Tim Kaine, I found no enthusiasm for Jerry Kilgore among voters whom I was pretty sure pulled the lever for Bush (twice) and Allen (at least once), some interest in Kaine, and a likely interest in just sitting out gubernatorial election. But all those GOP-leaning voters would look at me and say, wistfully, "I wish we could just keep Mark Warner."

I think his presidential run is a longshot, and he's not liberal enough to cause me real joy, but he would beat George Allen like a rug right now. I would have had a harder time predicting that, but it's true.