(Please forgive that groan-inducing pun in the subject line. I just couldn’t help it).
I know this site is all about down-ballot races, but I noticed that the topic of the Veepstakes became rather popular as it spun off from the thread on coattails. So, I’d like to open up the floor to discuss the matter . . . from the specific vantage point of how it affects the dynamics of the down-ballot races. I’ll start with the example of one of my favorite blue-trending states, Virginia:
The names of the Virginia Triumvirate (Warner, Kaine, and Webb) have all been tossed around as VP candidates here in the blogosphere. But, there are problems with picking any one of them. Most obviously, Mark Warner is running for senate this year, and taking him out of the running for that will leave us with no strong candidate. And if we don’t take that Virginia senate seat, there is no way we can get anywhere near the magic number 60.
Moving on to Tim Kaine, the first disadvantage of picking him is the fact that the Lt. Gov. of Virginia is a Republican– and not a moderate one, either. In addition to that, Kaine is not exactly a compelling presence on the stump. In Drew Westen’s recent book The Political Brain, Westen uses Kaine’s 2006 rebuttal to the State Of The Union as an example of what Democrats have been doing wrong in terms of presentation. Apparently, Kaine presented himself in a way that seemed de-fanged, reminiscent of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” I had to agree with that when I saw Kaine’s introduction to Obama at the state Jefferson-Jackson Dinner a few weeks back. He just doesn’t come off with any oomph, if you know what I mean, and we need an attack-dog on the ticket. Furthermore, Kaine rode into the governorship on Mark Warner’s coattails. I highly doubt that his own coattails are as long, or that his pull statewide is that strong.
Finally, getting to the man who was “Born Fighting,” Jim Webb. He can definitely sucker-punch the Republicans into oblivion, and appeal to voters whose top concern is national security. And, as a writer by trade, he gives great speeches that get people fired up. So where’s the downside? Well . . . my lingering concern is that, while Webb would be replaced by a Democrat temporarily, no Democrat in Virginia is strong enough to hold that seat in a special election. And, behind the scenes, the loathsome, rapacious miscreant known as George Felix Allen has been plotting his comeback. Replace Webb with a weaker candidate and we just might see Mr. Macaca back in his old senate seat. And, if that isn’t a chilling enough image . . . remember that, before his defeat, Allen had every intention of running for president. If he gets back into the senate, he will use it as a springboard to a national run, be it in 2012 or 2016.
To sum up the above paragraphs: Virginia is currently in a delicate stage of its development toward blueness. Its political ecosystem must be left intact, and it will trend our way naturally.
I yield the floor!
