Hillary Steps Up To The Plate For Webb

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton endorsed Democratic Senate candidate James Webb yesterday as he and Republican Sen. George Allen intensified their efforts to woo female voters in the Virginia campaign's closing month.

The high profile appearance by Clinton (D-N.Y.) at a fundraising lunch in Old Town Alexandria provided a needed boost to Webb, whom Allen has criticized for his past attitude toward women in the military.

While the former first lady was announcing her support for Webb, Allen was attending a similar function in Fredericksburg held by his wife, Susan, and Cecelia Howell, the wife of House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford).

The Senate candidates' views toward women have become a central character issue of the campaign. Allen, who has had problems with questions about his racial sensitivity, has sought to shift attention to Webb's opposition 27 years ago to women in combat.

Further, Webb has said he was not wrong for participating in a national debate in the late 1970s about whether women should serve in the military. He has said he is "fully comfortable with the roles of women in the military today."

The most recent polls show the Allen-Webb race tied. Advisers for both camps said the winner Nov. 7 could be the candidate with an advantage among women, who account for 3.7 million, or slightly more than half, of Virginia's population.

Female voters helped Timothy M. Kaine (D) beat former attorney general Jerry W. Kilgore (R) last year in the governor's race after Kaine offered messages about preschool, traffic and faith that were tailored specifically for church-going women in the suburbs.

WaPo goes on to note that:Webb campaign manager Steve Jarding dismissed Allen's appeal to women, noting that the senator opposes abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research -- two issues that Jarding said put Allen at odds with most women in Virginia.

"This is not a champion of women's issues," Jarding said of the senator. " . . . One of the Naval Academy graduates who initially joined Allen in criticizing Webb has now accepted his apology and endorsed the Democrat.

Clinton, who raised about $75,000 for Webb, praised him as a decisive leader who would stand up to the Bush administration. She said it was important to "replace subservient Republicans who are unwilling to ask the hard questions with Democrats like Jim Webb, who will."

Webb once called President Bill Clinton's administration the most "corrupt" in history. He has said his animosity was fueled by Clinton's attempts to get out of serving in Vietnam, where Webb was wounded and received several medals and commendations.

As for his support of women, Webb said yesterday that "probably the most important thing I can say about that entire issue is that there's a term in law, res ipsa loquitur , the thing speaks for itself"; he then introduced his top campaign staff members, five of whom are women.

. . .

When Susan Allen was asked whether she agreed with her husband's opposition to abortion rights, she said: "Labels are not necessarily a good thing. I believe George's record looking at that particular issue is excellent. He's represented Virginia values."

Hil gets a lot of flack for playing things too safe. She's put her money (bless her, because Webb needed it) and her star power behind Webb, who still is only even with Allen in a state w/ Diebold voting machines. She deserves credit for this.

I'd love to have someone other than Webb, who was a total pig about women in the military, to vote for. I don't. My choices are Allen, who's a disaster, and Webb, who's at least better than Allen, wants to get us out of Iraq, and will caucus with the Dems. I'm supporting Webb and so's Hil, which, given what Webb had to say about the Clinton administration, goes to show you that the woman can put personal grudges behind her.