Monday, July 10, 2006
So the race for Senate gets its first major national exposure on network (i.e. more than just a mention on CNN). You can view it here.
Go on, watch it. It's worth the 15 minutes of your life. I'll be here waiting...
Still waiting...
You should be almost done...
And we're back.
An interesting piece, I think. It says a lot about the strategies that each campaign is going to employ this year.
Basically, the Allen folks are going to brand Webb as someone who can't make a decision, and are going to not see him as a viable threat to the Senate seat. In reality, he may be a significant threat, but public perception means a whole lot in politics.
For Webb? He's gotten a lot more polished in the last month, but he still needs some help coming across as "Senatorial". His answers must be a lot more crisp and concise. Pieces of a rambling interview can easily be taken out of context and manipulated in the course of the campaign.
Both are trying to be the guy you'd like to sit at a bar with and have a beer. Call it the Karl Rove strategy. Make your guy more likable, and more regular. It's worked time and time again, and there's no reason it can't work in Virginia this year.
It takes a whole lot to unseat an incumbent Senator, and despite what you'll read elsewhere by the folks who have dipped their cups in the Webb KoolAid, I just don't see it right now from the Democratic candidate. He may be a fine, upstanding guy, and I'd love to pick his brain over a game of darts, but right now he's no Senator Webb.
One other note: George Allen does not look good. He seems to have aged significantly lately. Hopefully his health is not a problem. I may not like his politics (and there's a whole lot not to like), but I don't wish him any bodily harm.
Go on, watch it. It's worth the 15 minutes of your life. I'll be here waiting...
Still waiting...
You should be almost done...
And we're back.
An interesting piece, I think. It says a lot about the strategies that each campaign is going to employ this year.
Basically, the Allen folks are going to brand Webb as someone who can't make a decision, and are going to not see him as a viable threat to the Senate seat. In reality, he may be a significant threat, but public perception means a whole lot in politics.
For Webb? He's gotten a lot more polished in the last month, but he still needs some help coming across as "Senatorial". His answers must be a lot more crisp and concise. Pieces of a rambling interview can easily be taken out of context and manipulated in the course of the campaign.
Both are trying to be the guy you'd like to sit at a bar with and have a beer. Call it the Karl Rove strategy. Make your guy more likable, and more regular. It's worked time and time again, and there's no reason it can't work in Virginia this year.
It takes a whole lot to unseat an incumbent Senator, and despite what you'll read elsewhere by the folks who have dipped their cups in the Webb KoolAid, I just don't see it right now from the Democratic candidate. He may be a fine, upstanding guy, and I'd love to pick his brain over a game of darts, but right now he's no Senator Webb.
One other note: George Allen does not look good. He seems to have aged significantly lately. Hopefully his health is not a problem. I may not like his politics (and there's a whole lot not to like), but I don't wish him any bodily harm.
