Webb Campaign Adds Veteran African-American Operative Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Posted by Conaway B. Haskins III in Uncategorized.trackback
In another sign of progress for the Webb for Senate campaign, veteran Virginia operative Michael Brown come aboard to head up African-American Outreach and to assist with other statewide activities. Brown, who serves as the Chairman of the bipartisan State Board of Elections (seats are split between Republicans and Democrats), has worked in leadership roles with the campaigns of Sen. Louise Lucas, Del. Donald McEachin, and Del. Rosalyn Dance, three notable members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. Brown also worked on several of Doug Wilder’s history-making campaigns.
Brown - a military veteran like Webb – has deep roots in the politics of black Virginia and his presence should assuage any concerns about Webb’s ability to spur the African-American turnout in the Fall. This move is proof positive that Webb not only takes the black vote seriously, but that he intends to push hard for African-American vote. With President Bush polling poorly among African-Americans, and Sen. Allen proudly supporting the Administration 97% of the time, Webb will work to introduce himself to black voters and connect the dots about a vote for Allen being tantamount to a vote for Bush.
Webb critics will point to the initial opposition to his candidacy on the part of some members of the Legislative Black Caucus. However, contrary to the naysayers, the fact remains that a majority of the state’s 17 black legislators chose to stay neutral during the primary, preferring to focus their energies on the general election race against Allen. The 12 House members and 5 Senate members represent approximately 1/3 of Virginia’s total black population, and as loyal Democrats, Webb has their support firmly in tow. With Brown in place, and Larry Byrne and Abbi Easter already on the Webb team, the campaign is poised to make a big push into Virginia’s heartland as it heads toward Labor Day.
I understand that you and other bloggers may strike me down for what I am about to write, but I feel strong enough about this issue to comment. Thank you for this forum.
First, I think it is a terrific idea that Mr. Webb has hired Mr. Michael Brown to focus on African American outreach. But it has been two months since the primary, a primary where many people worried that Webb may have a tough time attracting African American voters in November. Why has this taken so long? Why has the African American leadership not jumped in with immediate unity for Mr. Webb?
My sources tell me that the majority of the Senate and Delegate Democratic caucuses are not very interested in a full-blown support effort for Mr. Webb. Mr. Webb has not had good meetings with some of those elected officials, and Mr. Byrne’s past has a few Delegates and Senators skeptical of his role in field activities.
I’ve heard some real nice things about Ms. Easter, but I have also heard that she has little money and infrastructure to get off the ground quickly. In Ms. Easter’s defense, she was just hired in late July. That also begs another question, why so late to hire a Richmond head? That was frustrating too, considering how much support (money and votes) that Mr. Webb needs from the Richmond area.
I’m tired of often hearing, “Don’t worry…things will shape up in the next week or two.” I’ve been hearing that since mid-June. This campaign is very far behind, so I’ll beg the question again, why is Mr. Brown coming in so late in the game?
I’m not “surprised” to hear that we may have “establishment” types in the Dem party who are lukewarm towards Webb…Establishment types are looking for a “yes” man that they can control….out here in the grassroots we are pushing for more Jim Webb types and will be “ousting” many establishment types that are into the CORPORATE status quo.
So hopefully after the Limont victory in CT some some of the established Dems will get religion and change their ways so we can truly have an opposition party to the Corporate Lobbyists favored Republicans who are currently selling out our country…(with help from “establishment” Dems)…
Go Webb!!
I don’t like the idea of any of the SBE triumvirate being active in a political campaign. I realize that it’s not new, and I realize that both parties do it, but I think that just as we expect legislators who become judges to both set aside their partisan affiliations and remove themselves from the political world (outside the voting booth), we should expect those partisan operatives who become chair, vice-chair, or secretary of the SBE to stop playing in elections during their tenures there.
I didn’t pick up on that SBE reference. Down here, the local chairman is from the party opposite that of the governor while the other 2 members are from the governor’s party. Must be different at the state level.
Many of the criticisms of the Webb campaign are valid. Rehashing them at this point is pointless and unproductive. We have 74 days to do all we can to win this Senate race.
This may be a wave election in which we have the opportunity to win back both Houses of Congress. Webb here in Virginia or Harold Ford in Tennessee could be the magic sixth pick up we need to take back the Senate. I’d hate to see a 50-50 split with Dick Cheney casting the tie breaker to let the Republicans organize the Senate again. Not when we have it in our power to do something about it.
There is plenty of time after the election to evaluate what was done right and what could have been done better. At that point, I’ll buy the first round. But today is the time for less talk and more action. We all can do something where we are right now to help this Senate campaign and the Congressional campaigns. Let’s do it! Let’s win this thing!
[...] This is an unfortunate issue, but it is absolutely not the conspiracy that some would like to believe. Jim Webb chose how he wanted his name to appear on the ballot, and the ballots “are designed by each local elections office” — which, remember, is predominantly Democratic in every case — which must then be approved by the State Board of Elections. The Chairman of the Virginia State Board of Elections is actually working for the Webb campaign. [...]