United States Senate election in Virginia, 2006

Infobox Election
election_name = United States Senate election in Virginia, 2006
country = Virginia
type = presidential
ongoing = no
previous_election = United States Senate election in Virginia, 2000
previous_year = 2000
next_election = United States Senate election in Virginia, 2012
next_year = 2012
election_date = November 7 2006


nominee1 = Jim Webb
party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
popular_vote1 = 1,175,606
percentage1 = 49.59


nominee2 = George Allen
party2 = Republican Party (United States)
popular_vote2 = 1,166,277
percentage2 = 49.20
map_

---

map_size = 250px
map_caption = Election results by county
title = Senator
before_election = George Allen
before_party = Republican Party (United States)
after_election = Jim Webb
after_party = Democratic Party (United States)The Virginia Senate election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006. James H. "Jim" Webb, the Democratic candidate, narrowly defeated Republican incumbent George Allen, and now represents Virginia as its junior in the Senate. His term runs from January 3, 2007 to January 3, 2013.

The election was not decided until nearly 48 hours after the polls closed, when Allen, behind by a margin of about 0.3%, conceded on November 9, 2006. With all of the other Senate races decided, the outcome effectively swung control of the Senate to the Democrats. cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/09/va.senate/index.html |title=Allen concedes, giving Senate control to Dems |publisher=CNN |date=2006-11-09 |accessdate=2006-11-09]

Allen, who previously served as Governor of Virginia and was considered a possible candidate for president in 2008, was running for his second term.

Webb, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, writer and former Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan, had defeated IT lobbyist Harris Miller in the June 13, 2006 primary election.

Gail Parker, a businesswoman, retired Air Force officer, and retired Pentagon budget analyst, ran as the Independent Green Party candidate.

Polls clearly favored Allen through mid-August until he was caught on videotape on August 11 twice using an ethnic slur in describing a Webb campaign volunteer, S.R. Sidarth, who is of Indian ancestry. Allen denied any prejudice in the comment, but his lead shrank considerably. Still, he led in most polls until late October, when several surveys showed Webb with a lead — mostly within the margin of error.

Election results

Official results as of Monday, November 27, 2006.cite web
date = November 2006
url = http://www2.sbe.virginia.gov/web_docs/Election/results/2006/Nov/
title = "November 27, 2006 General Election"
publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections
accessdate = 2006-11-27]

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Jim Webb
votes = 1,175,606
percentage = 49.6
change = +1.9Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (US)
candidate = George Allen (incumbent)
votes = 1,166,277
percentage = 49.2
change = –3.1Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent Green Party of Virginia
candidate = Gail Parker
votes = 26,102
percentage = 1.1
change = "n/a"Election box candidate
party = Write-ins
candidate =
votes = 2,460
percentage = 0.1
change = 0Election box majority
votes = 9,329
percentage = 0.4
change =Election box turnout
votes = 2,370,445
percentage = 52.0
change =Election box gain with party link
winner = Democratic Party (US)
loser = Republican Party (US)
swing = -2.5

When results began coming in, Allen quickly built a sizeable lead, which began to narrow as the night went on. With 90% of precincts reporting, Allen held a lead of approximately 30,000 votes [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EEuPyCDoQE] , or approximately 1.5%. However, as votes began to come in from population-heavy Richmond, Webb narrowed the gap, and pulled ahead within the last 1 or 2% of precincts to report. Preliminary results showed Webb holding a lead of 8,942 votes, [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/09/AR2006110900775_2.html Democrats Take Control of Senate As Allen Concedes to Webb in Va. - washingtonpost.com ] ] and many news organizations hesitated to call the election for either candidate until the next day. At 8:41 PM EST on November 8, AP declared Webb the winner.cite news
first = Liz, and Bob Lewis
last = Sidoti
url = http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20061109/ap_on_el_se/democrats_senate_6
title = Democrats Take Control of the Senate
publisher = Associated Press (via "Yahoo! News")
date = 8 November 2006
accessdate = 2006-11-09] In all Virginia elections, if the margin of defeat is less than half of a percentage point, the Commonwealth of Virginia allows the apparent losing candidate to request a recount, paid for by the local jurisdictions. If the margin of defeat is between one and one-half of a percentage point, the losing candidate is still entitled to request a recount, but must cover its expense.cite news
first = Joan
last = Lowy
url = http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061108/ap_on_el_se/senate_recount
title = Recount likely in Virginia Senate race
publisher = Associated Press (via "Yahoo! News")
date = 8 November 2006
accessdate = 2006-11-09] cite web
date = November 2006
url = http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/documents/Virginia_Recounts_-_The_Basics.doc
title = "Virginia Recounts -- The Basics"
format = DOC
work = Election Laws
publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections
accessdate = 2006-11-08] Because the difference was less than 0.5%, George Allen could have requested a recount paid for by the government; however, he chose not to do so. The reasoning for Allen's decision not to call for a recount was likely based on two things.
* Even in large jurisdictions, recounts - such as those in Florida in 2000 and Washington's 2004 gubernatorial election - rarely result in a swing of more than 1,000 votes, and Allen was trailing by almost 10,000 in the initial count. In particular, almost all votes in this Virginia election were cast using electronic voting machines, whose results are unlikely to change in a recount.
* There was wide speculation that calling for a recount (and still losing) would give Allen a "sore loser" label, which would hurt his future election campaigns, including what some speculated might still involve a 2008 presidential run. However, after losing the senatorial election, on December 10, 2006, Allen announced that he would not be running for president in 2008.

Democratic primary

Both Webb and Miller received endorsements from within the party, with most of Webb's coming from national Democrats while most of Miller's came from local Democrats. Webb received a campaign contribution from Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic leader in the Senate, and former leader Tom Daschle. He also received the endorsements of Senator Richard Durbin, the Democratic Whip; former Senator Bob Kerrey; Representative John Murtha; former Representative Leslie Byrne, General Wesley Clark, Senator John Kerry, Representative Owen Pickett, former State Delegate Chap Petersen, and eleven of the members of former Senator Chuck Robb's staff. [cite web
url=http://richmonddemocrat.blogspot.com/2006/05/us-senator-debbie-stabenow-endorses.html
last = Wilmore
first = J.C.
title = U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow endorses Jim Webb
work = The Richmond Democrat Blog
publisher = J.C. Wilmore
date = 2006-05-24
format = Blog
doi =
accessdate = ] Miller was endorsed by a large number of Virginia state senators and the Alexandria city council. Miller also received the endorsement of Kate Michelman, the only abortion-rights endorsement in the primary.cite web
url=http://www.miller2006.org/content.jsp?content_KEY=1390
title = Endorsing Harris Miller...
publisher = Harris Miller for US Senate
format = Website
accessdate = 2006-10-01 ]

The week before the primary, Miller said a Webb campaign flier characterized him in an anti-Semitic way; Webb denied that it did. [cite news | url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2058881&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312 | title=Flier Blasted on Drawing of Jewish Opponent | first=Bob |last=Lewis | date=2006-06-09 | accessdate=2006-10-01| publisher=ABC News, the Associated Press ]

Federal Election Commission reports show that in the first part of 2006, Miller raised more than twice as much money as Webb, who entered the race in February. (Miller contributed over $1 million to his own campaign, 60% of what he raised. [cite web
url = http://opensecrets.org/politicians/alsorun.asp?CID=N00020751&cycle=2006
title = Harris N. Miller: 2006 Politician Profile
accessdate = 2006-10-01
date = 2006-09-15
publisher = The Center for Responsive Politics
language = English] )

The primary was held on June 13, 2006. Webb was the winner, garnering 53.5% of the vote to Miller's 46.5%. The election was the only significant race on the ballot, and was marked by low turnout: only 3.44% of registered Virginia voters cast ballots. Against predictions to the contrary, Miller did better in the more conservative areas of the state.

Independent Green Party of Virginia candidate

Gail Parker is state secretary of the Independent Green Party of Virginia, which is unaffiliated with and generally more conservative than the national Green Party. [cite news
url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&%09s=1045855935264&c=MGArticle&cid=1149189699501&path=!news!politics
title=Eleven independents seek seats in Congress from Va.
first=Tyler
last=Whitley
date=2006-07-31 ] In 2005, she ran as a candidate for Virginia State delegate for the 44th district, receiving 3.3% of the vote. [cite news
url=http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=105378&ran=192653
title=Rail proponent earns spot on this fall’s Senate ballot
first=Warren
last=Fiske
publisher=The Virginian-Pilot
date=2006-06-02 ] For the 2006 election, Parker's party collected more than 20,000 signatures, leading the Virginia state board of elections to place her on the ballot on May 23.

On October 27, 2006, it was reported that Parker was considering dropping out of the race. She was said to have been contacting both Allen's and Webb's campaigns to discuss further details. Parker had promised to withdraw from the race if either Allen or Webb adopted her two main campaign platforms of stronger Congressional oversight on military spending and initiative to have a Virginia railroad to reduce traffic and Virginia's consumption of oil. Because neither Allen nor Webb spoke of these platforms, Parker remained in the race and her name was on the ballot. Glenda Parker received over 25,000 votes, or a little over 1% of the popular vote. It is generally agreed that supporters of Parker were those who considered her campaign platform the most important to them, as well as voters who were distrustful of the two-party system and believed that there would generally be no difference if Allen or Webb were elected. [ [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15441907/ MSNBC.com] , 10/26/2006.]

General election campaign

Candidate positions

Webb focused on his early and outspoken opposition to the war in Iraq, which Allen supported. In a September 4, 2002, "Washington Post" opinion piece, Webb wrote: "A long-term occupation of Iraq would beyond doubt require an adjustment of force levels elsewhere, and could eventually diminish American influence in other parts of the world." [cite news
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A34847-2002Sep3
last = Webb
first = James
title = Heading for Trouble: Do we really want to occupy Iraq for the next 30 years?
work = Washington Post
page = A21
date = 2002-09-04
accessdate = 2006-10-28 ] Webb’s son, a U.S. Marine, is serving in Iraq.

Allen and Webb differed on other issues. Allen is pro-life; Webb, pro-choice. Allen supported George W. Bush’s tax cuts while Webb said more of the benefits should have gone to middle-class Americans. [cite web | url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/James_Webb.htm | title=James Webb on the Issues | publisher=OnTheIssues] Both candidates support the death penalty, right-to-work laws, and Second Amendment rights.

Finances

Allen retained a substantial lead in fundraising: $6.6 million on hand to Webb’s $1.1 million through 15 September 2006. [cite web | url=http://opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?ID=VAS1&Cycle=2006 | publisher=The Center for Responsive Politics | title=Total Raised and Spent, 2006 RACE: VIRGINIA SENATE]

Debates

"Meet the Press" debate

On September 17, Allen and Webb appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" for a debate. Part of the program's debate series on the midterm elections, the debate heavily discussed both the original Gulf War and the present war in Iraq. Host Tim Russert questioned Webb about his initial support for Allen's 2000 U.S. Senate run, as well as what led him to later oppose Allen. Russert also questioned Allen about a remark Webb made concerning his interactions with Allen at the start of the Iraq conflict. Webb asserted that he approached Allen regarding U.S. involvement in the region and cautioned against military action. Webb also claimed that Allen responded to this by saying "You’re asking me to be disloyal to the president." After being questioned on this by Russert, Allen clarified by saying "No, it’s loyalty to this country, and making sure that our country is unified in, in this, in this effort to disarm Saddam Hussein. That was the point." Allen also addressed what he saw as a weakness in Webb, claiming his opponent wanted to withdraw from Iraq. Webb clarified his belief that the U.S. has a commitment to ensure Iraq is stable before withdrawing, but also reasserted that a permanent U.S. presence in Iraq is not an option.

The debate likewise covered an upcoming vote on the use of coercive interrogation methods on enemy combatants. Allen stated that he had not yet made a decision on how to vote, but stated "Now, the key in all of this is I don’t want to stop these interrogations. I’m not for torture, I’m not for waterboarding, but some of these techniques have been very helpful to us, whether, whether they are sleep deprivation, or whether there’s loud music. And I need to be absolutely certain that what the interrogations — interrogators are doing now — which is completely fine as far as I’m concerned, protecting Americans — will not be harmed by the proposal." Webb expressed that this was an issue close to him as a former soldier, but also stated that he did not believe interrogations should be ended completely. Webb however reaffirmed his concerns that if the U.S. abandons the Geneva Convention its soldiers will suffer abroad.

Russert questioned Webb on the recent allegations that his 1979 "Washingtonian" article fostered hostility towards female students at the Naval Academy. Webb responded as he had in prior press releases, expressing his regret for the repercussions of the article. Russert similarly asked Allen about a statement he made in 2000 in the pages of "American Enterprise magazine": "If [Virginia Military Institute] admitted women, it wouldn’t be the VMI that we’ve known for 154 years. You just don’t treat women the way you treat fellow cadets. If you did, it would be ungentlemanly, it would be improper." Allen responded that VMI has made great progress in a co-ed curriculum, making women cadets more of a possibility than at the time he made the statement.cite news | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14815993/ | title=Meet the Press Transcript for Sept. 17 | publisher=MSNBC | date=2006-09-17 |accessdate=2006-10-28]

League of Women Voters debate

On October 9, 2006, the League of Women Voters sponsored a debate between Allen and Webb. The format consisted of the candidates answering series of questions from the moderator, from the LWV panel, and finally from each other. Largely, the responses from the candidates did not expand on the body of knowledge already present in their television and radio commercials. The overall feel of the debate was somewhat combative, with Allen frequently going overtime on responses and a round of uncontrolled verbal jousting after Allen cited Webb's prior statements on raising taxes.

Controversies

Allen's Barr Labs investment

On August 8, 2006, it was reported that Allen, who opposes abortion rights, owned stock in Barr Laboratories, maker of the Plan B "morning after pill", an emergency contraceptive intended to prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of intercourse. The Webb campaign criticized Allen for holding stock in a company that makes a product that many of his supporters oppose. Allen responded by saying that he holds the stock because Barr Labs has created jobs in Virginia, and by pointing to his consistently pro-life voting record. Allen has no plans to sell the stock.cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/08/AR2006080801323.html | title=Abortion Foe Allen Faulted for Stock in Morning-After Pill Maker | work=Washington Post | date=2006-08-09 | last=Craig |first=Tim |page=B05]

Allen's "Macaca" controversy

[
right|thumb|Allen_points_to_Webb_aide,_Sidarth,_referring_to_him_as_cite web
url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G7gq7GQ71c
title = Allen's Listening Tour
work = YouTube
date = 2006-08-14
accessdate = 2006-08-15 ] ] On Friday, August 11, 2006, George Allen twice called S.R. Sidarth, a 20-year-old Webb campaign volunteer, "macaca". Sidarth is of Indian ancestry, but was born and raised in Fairfax County, Virginia. As a "tracker" for the opposing Webb campaign, Sidarth was filming an Allen campaign stop in Breaks, Virginia, near the Kentucky border.

During a speech, Allen paused, then began referring to Sidarth: cquote|This fellow here over here with the yellow shirt, Macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great. We're going to places all over Virginia, and he's having it on film and it's great to have you here and you show it to your opponent because he's never been there and probably will never come. [...] Let's give a welcome to Macaca, here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia.cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081400589.html | title=Allen Quip Provokes Outrage, Apology | work=Washington Post | date=2006-08-15 |coauthors=Tim Craig and Michael D. Shear |accessdate-2006-10-30 |page=A01] According to Sidarth, he was the only non-white person present among the crowd of 100 or so Republican supporters, some of whom applauded Allen's remarks.

The Webb campaign accused Allen of using a racial insult; "macaca" has been identified as a Francophone epithet for North African indigenes, and commentators have suggested that he may have heard the slur from his mother, Henrietta "Etty" Allen, who is a "pied-noir", or North African (in Allen's case, a Tunisian) of French descent. [cite news |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/alleged-slur-casts-spotlight-on-senator%E2%80%99s-jewis/ |title=Alleged Slur Casts Spotlight On Senator’s (Jewish?) Roots |first=E.J. |last= Kessler |date=2006-08-25 |publisher=The Jewish Daily Forward ] During a televised debate on September 18, reporter Peggy Fox asked Allen if he had learned the slur from his mother; Etty Allen denied that she had ever used the word before.cite news| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/20/AR2006092001965_pf.html |title=Allen's Mother Revealed Jewish Heritage to Him Last Month |last=Shear |first=Michael D |work=Washington Post |date=2006-09-21 |page=A01 |accessdate=2006-11-03]

According to the "Washington Post", Allen's campaign manager initially dismissed the incident with an expletive. Allen later said that he had heard his staff use the term "macaca" in reference to Sidarth, that he did not know what the word meant, and that he did not intend to insult Sidarth's ethnicity when he singled him out to the crowd. "I do apologize if he's offended by that," Allen said, adding that "I would never want to demean him as an individual."

Shortly after, Allen's campaign held that he used the word in reference to Sidarth's hairstyle. Although Sidarth was wearing a baseball cap on the day of the incident, [cite web |url=http://www.theyoungturks.com/story/2006/8/16/201332/564
title=Interview with Sidarth
work=Summary of radio interview ] he had been conversing casually with Allen's aides during campaign stops before the incident.cite news
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/24/AR2006082401639.html
title=Fairfax Native Says Allen's Words Stung
first=Fredrick
last=Kunkle
work=Washington Post
date=2006-08-25
accessdate=2006-10-30
page=B01] Allen's campaign staff claim to have referred to him privately as "Mohawk". A now widely disseminated photo of Sidarth, [cite web | url=http://images14.fotki.com/v21/photos/7/723557/2606350/ListeningTourDay3033-vi.jpg| title=S.R. Sidarth at an Allen Campaign Event | publisher=Virginia Conservative | date=2006-08-18] hosted by the Webb campaign, shows Sidarth's hair to be longer in the middle and shaved on the sides, typical of a mohawk.

On August 15, 2006, John Reid, Allen's communications director, told the "New York Times" that members of Allen's campaign had "good-naturedly" nicknamed Sidarth "Mohawk" when speaking among themselves, but could not explain how the word might have morphed into "macaca".cite web | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/15/washington/15cnd-allen.html | title=Verbal Gaffe From a Senator, Then an Apology | work=New York Times | date=August 15, 2005] Reid told the "Times" that Sidarth only received a nickname from Allen campaign staff because he would not give his real name. Interviewed that day on CNN, however, Sidarth recalled shaking Allen's hand earlier in the week and giving his name. "He's very good with names, legendarily. He tries very hard to remember peoples' names when meeting them," Sidarth said. As for the "macaca" remark, "I am disappointed that someone like a Senator of the United States could use something [so] completely offensive." [cite news
url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBuxjQAVEMY
title = George Allen's 'Macaca' Remark
publisher=CNN News
date=August 15, 2006 ]

On August 16, 2006, the "National Journal" reported that two Virginia Republicans who heard the word used by Allen's campaign staff said "macaca" was a neologism created from "mohawk" and "caca", Spanish and French slang for excrement. The "National Journal" quoted a Republican close to the campaign saying, "In other words, [Sidarth] was a shit-head, an annoyance." [cite web | url=http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/08/a_new_explanati.html | title=A New Explanation For "Macaca?" | publisher=National Journal (Hotline) | date=2006-08-16 |accessdate=2006-11-03]

By August 20, 2006, Allen began insisting that he had never before heard the word, and that he simply made it up, contrary to original explanations from Allen and his staff.cite news
url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190075864
title=Allen can't get 'macaca' off his back
coauthors=Tyler Whitley and Peter Hardin
date=2006-08-20
work=Richmond Times-Dispatch ] cite news | title=Transcript for September 17 Meet the Press |date=2006-09-17 |work=Meet the Press |publisher=MSNBC.com |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14815993/ ] cite news
url=http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0906/361635.html
title=Allen, Webb Spar on Iraq Policy in Televised Debate
last=Lewis
first=Bob
publisher=Associated Press
work=NewsChannel 8
date=2006-09-18
accessdate=2006-11-05]

After several public apologies, Allen called Sidarth twelve days after the incident, on August 23, to apologize directly for his remarks. Allen's campaign manager Dick Wadhams has continued to blame opponent Webb, the media, and Allen's "leftist" foes for a "feeding frenzy." [cite news
title=Allen Calls Webb Aide, Apologizes For Remark
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/23/AR2006082301600.html
work=Washington Post
last=Michael D. Shear and Tim Craig
date=2006-08-24 ] The incident reduced Allen's once-broad polling margin over Webb to single digits. [cite web| url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=a99a9b7d-89aa-4e5f-9a0e-35d657ae1db3 | title=Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll #10072 | publisher=SurveyUSA | date=2006-08-21]

On September 19, John Podhoretz used the name "Felix Macacawitz" as a headline for a post in the "National Review" blog "The Corner." [cite web|url=http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ODBiODMwNzYyMjA2ZmU3YTVjNTdjYjhmMmZjMWQ2YWY| title=Felix Macacawitz| publisher=National Review|work=The Corner|date=2006-09-19|accessdate=2006-10-30|last=Podhoretz |first=John] It became a popular nickname for Allen. [cite web|url=http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OWFkNmQzODY3M2UxNmI4ZDE0MDM0N2Q4Y2RhMWMyMmM| title=Podhoretz gets results!| publisher=National Review|work=The Corner|date=2006-10-05|accessdate=2006-10-30|last=Podhoretz |first=John] On October 4, Weed for Congress field organizer Meryl Ibis resigned after she used the name in an email to supporters of Weed. [cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/04/AR2006100401762.html |title=Democratic Organizer Quits After Calling Allen 'Macacawitz' |date=2006-10-05 |last=Craig |first=Tim |accessdate=2006-10-30 |page=B02]

Some political observers believe the incident shows an early-21st-century shift in American politics. Salon.com named Sidarth its 2006 Person of the Year. Michael Scherer wrote, "Sidarth was the kid next door. He, not Allen, was the real Virginian. He was proof that every hour his native commonwealth drifts further from the orbit of the GOP's solid South and toward a day when Allen's act will be a tacky antique. Allen was the past, Sidarth is the wired, diverse future -- of Virginia, the political process and the country." [ [http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/12/16/sidarth/ Salon Person of the Year: S.R. Sidarth | Salon ] ]

Relating to the Allen controversy, "Macaca" was named the most politically incorrect word of 2006 on December 15 by Global Language Monitor, a nonprofit group that studies word usage [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061218/od_nm/words_dc] .

Webb's Reagan ad

On September 7, 2006, Webb released his first television advertisement. [cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/07/AR2006090701596.html | title=Television Ad Shows Reagan Praising Webb In 1985 Speech | work=Washington Post | date=2006-09-08] It featured footage of a 1985 speech by Ronald Reagan praising Webb at the secretary's alma mater, the United States Naval Academy in 1985.

The next day, an official working for the Reagan Presidential Foundation faxed a letter to Webb's campaign on behalf of former first lady Nancy Reagan, urging them not to air the advertisement.cite news
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/14/AR2006091401583.html
title=Let Reagan Be Reagan
work=Washington Post
date=2006-09-15
page=A18
accessdate=2006-10-30] In response, Webb told reporters that if Ronald Reagan had made any speeches about Allen his opponent's campaign would probably use them, too. "I would encourage them to try to go find some." [cite news | url=http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/81976 | title=Nancy Reagan says it's not OK for Webb to use President in ad | work=Roanoke Times | date=2006-09-09]

The Webb advertisement also aired in Norfolk, Roanoke, and Northern Virginia.

The Reagan Library has asked other political campaigns to pull advertising involving the former president's image. In 2004, it criticized the conservative Club for Growth for an advertisement comparing George W. Bush to Reagan. [cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/08/AR2006090801720.html | title=Nancy Reagan Asks Webb to Pull Ad With Her Husband | work=Washington Post | date=2006-09-09 |date=2006-10-30 |coauthors=Michael D. Shear and Tim Craig |page=B01]

On September 15, 2006, a "Washington Post" editorial supported Webb's advertisement and chided the Allen campaign for crying foul, saying that neither protest by Allen's campaign or Reagan's Library (later corrected to the Reagan Presidential Foundation) has any merit:cquote|The president is a public official, paid by the taxpayers. His speeches are in the public domain; they belong to all Americans, and to history. His words may fairly be the subject of bitter debate and divergent interpretation for decades or centuries to come, but they should not be censored posthumously. In this instance, Mr. Webb has neither distorted Mr. Reagan's words nor taken them out of context; nor did Mr. Reagan ever repudiate them.

Allen at Fairfax County Republican Committee's ethnic rally

On September 9, 2006, Allen attended, along with other Republican elected officials and candidates for public office, an "ethnic community rally" at Thomas Edison High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. The Fairfax County Republican Committee, together with several ethnically-based Republican groups, had sponsored this event for the past several years. Participating organizations included local Republican groups drawn from the Asian American, African American, and Hispanic American communities, among others. A small group of protesters demonstrated outside the high school, including one activist dressed in a gorilla costume as a reference to Allen's "macaca" remark. One protester said she was there "to let him [George Allen] know that racism is not acceptable", while another protester suggested that Allen was "holding a fake diversity rally". [cite news | url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&%09s=1045855935264&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190537881&path=!news!politics | title=Allen holds 'ethnic rally' | first=Carlos |last=Santos |accessdate=2005-09-22 | work=Richmond Times-Dispatch | date=2006-09-10]

Both Allen and Webb's supporters video-recorded the event. Webb supporters claim the videos show more white faces than non-white. [cite web | accessdate=2006-09-25 | title= Poor Turnout for George Allen's "Ethnic Community Rally" | url=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/9/18934/76052 ] "The Virginian-Pilot" described the crowd as chiefly Asian-American. Webb, according to exit polls, went on to win all minority groups overwhelmingly, including Asian-Americans. [cite news
accessdate=2006-09-22
date=2006-09-10
first=Dale
last=Eisman
work=Virginian-Pilot
title=Allen tries to get past high-profile gaffe
url=http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=110757&ran=232189 ]

Webb's stance on women in combat

On September 13, 2006, five female graduates of the United States Naval Academy had a press conference promoted by the Allen campaign to assail a "Washingtonian" article Webb wrote in 1979. They accuse Webb of fostering an air of hostility and harassment towards females within the academy. In the article, entitled "Women Can't Fight", Webb described his personal experiences in the Vietnam War as a U.S. Marine infantry officer, and explained why he believed combat was an inappropriate environment for women. Webb also wrote that he had never met a woman "whom [he] would trust to provide those men with combat leadership". The article also characterized the Naval Academy dormitory situation as "a horny woman's dream", due to the ratio of men to women being 13⅓ to 1 at the time.

The five women, who attended the Naval Academy from the late 1970s to early 1980s, asserted that the article led to male midshipmen constantly harassing and humiliating them. Some even went so far as to wear "Jim Webb Fan Club" t-shirts.

In response to the allegations, Webb's campaign released a statement that he wrote the article during a time of great emotional debate over a wide array of social issues in this country, and the tone of this article was no exception. He added that he is "completely comfortable" with the present roles of women within the Naval Academy and the modern military. Webb expressed that at the time he wrote the article he did not anticipate its effects, "and to the extent that my writing subjected women at the Academy or the active Armed Forces to undue hardship, I remain profoundly sorry." [cite news
url=http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=110936&ran=145117
title=Female Naval Academy grads say Webb column caused harassment
work=The Virginian-Pilot
first=Bob
last=Lewis
date=2006-09-13 ]

Allen himself has come under fire for similar attitudes he supported regarding the Virginia Military Institute. Allen remarked in 2000 that women "should not be in foxholes", and that " [t] he purpose of the armed services is not to be a social experiment". [cite news
url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200609150006
title=AP, "Situation Room" note Allen attacks on 1979 Webb article against women in combat, but not Allen's current position on the issue
publisher=Media Matters for America
date=2006-09-15
first=Brian J.
last=Levy] A 2000 candidate-guide published by the "Virginian-Pilot" reiterated this stance of Allen's. [cite web
url=http://home.hamptonroads.com/election/2000electomatic/guideDetail.cfm?candidateID=8 | title=Candidates Guide, Election 2000
work=The Virginian-Pilot]

Allen's remarks about his Jewish heritage

In the wake of the Macaca controversy, the Jewish periodical "The Forward" reported that in all likelihood, Allen's mother Etty Allen, "née" Henrietta Lumbroso, was Jewish "from the august Sephardic Jewish Lumbroso family",cite news | url=http://www.forward.com/articles/alleged-slur-casts-spotlight-on-senator%E2%80%99s-jewis/ | title=Alleged Slur Casts Spotlight On Senator’s (Jewish?) Roots | publisher=The Forward | date=August 25, 2006 | first=E.J. | last=Kessler] and that therefore by the Jewish legal rule of matrilineal descent, Allen himself would be considered Jewish.

On September 18, 2006, Allen and Webb debated each other at the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce. [cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/18/AR2006091801240.html | title=As Fall Approaches, Va. Race Gauges Influence of Bush, Iraq | work=Washington Post | date=2006-09-16] One of the more interesting aspects of this debate came when Allen was questioned by WUSA-TV anchor Peggy Fox. Fox said: "It has been reported [that] your grandfather Felix, whom you were given your middle name for, was Jewish. Could you please tell us whether your forebears include Jews and, if so, at which point Jewish identity might have ended?" This led to a booing from the crowd and anger from Allen who admonished Fox for "making aspersions" and responded: "To be getting into what religion my mother is, I don't think is relevant...Why is that relevant -- my religion, Jim's religion or the religious beliefs of anyone out there?" [cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/18/AR2006091801014.html | title=The Senator's Gentile Rebuke | work=Washington Post | date=2006-09-19 |last=Milbank |first=Dana |accessdate=2006-11-30] The next day, Allen issued a statement both confirming and distancing himself from his mother's Jewish ancestry. The statement read: cquote|I was raised as a Christian and my mother was raised as a Christian. And I embrace and take great pride in every aspect of my diverse heritage, including my Lumbroso family line’s Jewish heritage, which I learned about from a recent magazine article and my mother confirmed.cite news | url=http://www.forward.com/articles/allen-confirms-mothers-jewish-roots/ | title=Senator Allen Confirms Mother's Jewish Roots | publisher=The Forward | date=2006-09-16] Allen also told the "Richmond Times-Dispatch", in a reference to kosher dieting, "I still had a ham sandwich for lunch. And my mother made great pork chops."cite news | url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190712778 | title=Allen tells of his Jewish heritage | work=Richmond Times-Dispatch | date=2006-09-20 | first=Peter | last=Hardin | first2=Jeff | last2=Schapiro] The "Washington Post" reported that Allen's mother feared retribution against her family if her religious and ethnic background became public, and had originally asked Allen to keep that information private.cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/20/AR2006092001965.html | title=Allen's Mother Revealed Jewish Heritage to Him Last Month | work=Washington Post | date=2006-09-21 |accessdate=2006-11-09 |last=Shear |first=Michael D |page=A01] Although no mention is made of her mother's religion in Allen's sister's book, she does mention that the Catholic Church, before marrying the couple, required Allen's parents to agree that any children would be raised Catholic, and as a result they decided to be married by a justice of the peace in the home of a Jewish friend.

PAC ad on Allen's body armor vote

In mid-September, VoteVets.org, a political action committee formed in 2006 that is primarily composed of former Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and headed by Jon Soltz, released a television advertisement criticizing Allen for voting against body armor for US troops in 2003. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8zQA1gYwpk YouTube] Vote Vets PAC television advertisement] The claim was based on Allen's vote against a Democratic amendment that would have increased National Guard funding for body armor.

Various organizations subsequently attempted to assess the validity of the claim. The "Arizona Republic" ran a piece headlined "VoteVets ad is pure deceit." [cite news | url=http://www.azcentral.com/php-bin/clicktrack/print.php?referer=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0919tue2-19.html | title=VoteVets ad is pure deceit | publisher=Arizona Republic | date=September 19, 2006] FactCheck.org said the ad contained "false claims." [cite web | url=http://www.factcheck.org/article438.html | title=False Claims About Body Armor | publisher=FactCheck.org | date=September 20, 2006] But Media Matters for America said Allen voted against troop body armor not once, but twice. [cite web | url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200609220002 | title=AZ Republic, FactCheck.org lobbed misleading claims in attempt to debunk Vote Vets ad criticizing Allen | publisher=Media Matters for America | date=September 21, 2006]

In March 2003, Allen voted against a bill that "targets shortfalls identified by the National Guard and Reserve in their Unfunded Requirement lists," including the shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests.Fact|date=January 2007 On October 2, 2003, Allen voted against a Democratic amendment by Senator Christopher Dodd to add $322 million to the $300 million (for body armor and battlefield cleanup) that the Senate Appropriations Committee had already attached to an $87 billion emergency supplemental bill.Fact|date=January 2007

Allen's alleged use of racial epithets

Salon published a story in late September reporting that three of Allen's former college football teammates said that during the 1970s, Allen repeatedly used an inflammatory racial epithet and demonstrated racist attitudes toward blacks.cite news | url=http://salon.com/news/feature/2006/09/24/allen_football/ | title=Teammates: Allen used "N-word" in college | work=Salon.com | date=2006-09-24 | first=Michael | last=Scherer] On September 29, Edward Sabornie, a professor at North Carolina State University who had been in Allen's class and played football with him, decided to go on record with his allegations. Sabornie had commented under condition of anonymity in Salon's previous article about Allen's use of the slur. In that article, he was described as a "white teammate" and commented that using racial epithets "was so common with George when he was among his white friends. [It was] the terminology he used." Sabornie also recalled Allen as having referred to blacks as "roaches" and Latinos as "wetbacks". [cite news | url = http://salon.com/news/feature/2006/09/29/allen_sabornie/index.html | title=Another teammate confirms Allen used "N-word" | first=Michael |last=Scherer | work=Salon.com | date=2006-09-29]

Following the first Salon article, pundit Larry Sabato, who attended the University of Virginia at the same time as Allen, stated on a televised interview that he knew for a fact that Allen used the epithet. Sabato later recanted saying that he had only heard that rumor from someone else. [cite news | url = http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/09/26/D8KCIVV85.html | title=Professor Says Senator Used Racial Slur | first=Bob |last=Lewis | publisher=Associated Press | date=2006-09-26] Allen called the claims "ludicrously false", explaining, " [t] he story and [Shelton's] comments and assertions in [the claim] are completely false. I don't remember ever using that word and it is absolutely false that that was ever part of my vocabulary." [cite news | url = http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/09/25/D8KC1BF81.html | title=Sen. Allen Denies Using Racial Slur | first=Bob |last=Lewis | publisher=Associated Press | date=2006-09-25]

Sons of Confederate Veterans

On September 28, 2006 the Sons of Confederate Veterans criticized Allen when the group claimed Allen criticized Southern heritage by stating that he had come to recognize that the Confederate Battle flag had negative racial overtones.cite news | url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060928/ap_on_el_se/virginia_senate | title=Group accuses Allen of spurning heritage | publisher=Associated Press | date= September 28, 2006 | first=Joe | last=Nickell]

Webb's use of ethnic epithets

In late September, Webb was asked if he had ever used the "N-word". Webb replied that "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 in their life." Webb noted that that word and a lot of other epithets were in "Fields of Fire", a novel Webb wrote about the Vietnam War.cite news|url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190839884 |title=Webb 'never directed slur at anyone' |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |date=2006-09-27 |accessdate=2006-11-05 |last=Krishnamurthy |first=Kiran]

Allen campaign officials referred reporters to Dan Cragg, a former acquaintance of Webb's. Cragg said that Webb told him in 1963 that Webb and members of his ROTC unit at the University of Southern California would "hop into their cars, and would go down to Watts", taking fake rifles, and yell out epithets, "point the rifles at them [black people] , pull the triggers and then drive off laughing." Cragg had recorded the interview in which he claimed the anecdote was related, but it is absent from the tape. Spokeswoman Kristian Denny Todd quoted Webb as saying: "In 1963, you couldn't go to Watts and do that kind of thing. You'd get killed. So of course I didn't do it. I would never do that. I would never want to do that." Webb also produced a friend from the time who claimed that the two had never driven to Watts as claimed.cite news|first=Michael D |last=Shear |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/27/AR2006092702062.html |title=Webb Denies Ever Using Word as Epithet: Racial Slur Overshadowing All Else in Contest |work=Washington Post |date-2006-09-28 |accessdate=2006-11-05 |page=B01]

An October 18, 2006, article in the "Washington Post" quotes a recent interview with Webb concerning the portrayal of ethnic stereotypes in Hollywood. Webb said, "Towel-heads and rednecks -- of which I am one. If you write that word, please say that. I mean, I don't use that pejoratively, I use it defensively. Towel-heads and rednecks became the easy villains in so many movies out there". [cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/17/AR2006101701585_3.html
title=Don't Call Him Redneck | work = Washington Post | date= October 18, 2006 | first=Libby | second=Copeland]

Allen's undisclosed business interests

On October 8, 2006, the Associated Press, reviewing five years of Allen's financial records, reported that Allen did not properly report income and stock options from companies which have federal contracts, and contacted the Army to help a company in which he has an interest.cite news| url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/print?id=2542244 |title=
last=Theimer |first=Sharon |publisher=Associated Press | work=ABC News |date=2006-10-09 |accessdate=2006-11-06] Allen's staff said Allen believed in "good faith" that he did not need to report the stock options because their purchase price was higher than the current market value.

Following the AP report, Allen asked the Senate ethics committee for an opinion on whether he should have disclosed his options. The ethics committee ruled than Allen was not required to disclose his stock options, and did not err in not doing so. [ [http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=6122824&nav=S6aK WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | Our Apologies ] ]

Webb's name truncated on ballots

On October 24, 2006, the "Washington Post" reported that Webb's last name would be truncated on electronic ballots used in Alexandria, Falls Church and Charlottesville. Webb's name should appear as "James H. 'Jim' Webb" but only "James H. 'Jim"' will show on a summary page due to the font size used on the InterCivic voting machines. Allen's name "George F. Allen" was not affected by this glitch. The Virginia State Board of Elections pledged to have it fixed by the 2007 statewide elections and to post signs warning voters of this error.cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/23/AR2006102301178.html |title=Some Voting Machines Chop Off Candidates' Names |work=Washington Post|last=Smith |first=Leef |date=2006-10-24 |accessdate=2006-10-29 |page=B04]

Explicit passages from Webb novels

On October 26, 2006, the Drudge Report posted a press release reprinting and commenting on sexually explicit passages from Webb's novels. One excerpt involved a man placing his son's penis in his mouth; others involved allegedly sexist portrayals of women. The press release, which the Drudge Report attributed to the Allen campaign, said the passages fit "a continued pattern of demeaning women" in which Webb "refuse [s] to portray women in a respectful, positive light". [cite web|url=http://www.drudgereport.com/flashaw.htm |title=Allen's Revenge: Exposes Underage Sex Scenes in Opponent's Novels |publisher=Drudge Report|date=2006-10-26 |accessdate=2006-10-27] Allen's campaign refused to tell a local radio news station, WTOP-FM, whether it in fact had issued a news release on the matter. [cite news|url=http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=213&sid=956260 |title=Jim Webb Defends Content of His Novels |publisher=WTOP|date=2006-10-27 |accessdate=2006-10-27]

In a radio interview on October 27, 2006, Webb described the Allen campaign's tactics as "smear after smear", and called the attack on his fiction baseless "character assassination". Webb defended his fiction work, saying that "the duty of a writer is to illuminate [his] surroundings". He said that the scene involving the man and his son was based upon an incident in a Bangkok slum that he witnessed as a journalist [cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/27/webb.allen/ |title=Webb on sex passage recital: 'It's smear after smear' |accessdate=2006-10-27 |date=2006-10-27 |publisher=CNN |last=Levs |first=Joshua] and that it was "not a sexual act". [cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0610/27/acd.01.html |title="Virginia Senate Race Heats Up; Does Negative Campaign Advertising Work?; Authorities Investigate Suspected Arson in California" |publisher=CNN.com, Transcript of Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees |date=2006-10-27 |accessdate=2006-12-10]

Responding to the controversy, Allen stated: "My record as a United States senator is an open book. My opponent has a record as well. He, in his advertisements, points out that he's an author, that he's a writer of books. That's part of his record. These passages in his books are part of his open record. I'll let the people of Virginia be the judge as to whose record they are more comfortable with."cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/28/AR2006102800911_pf.html |title=Webb Defends Novels Against Attacks: Allen Has Crossed a 'Line That Should Never Be Crossed,' Candidate Says |accessdate=2006-12-10 |date=2006-10-29 |publisher=Washington Post |last=Craig |first=Tim]

At a campaign rally in Annandale on October 28, 2006, Webb noted that his novel "Fields of Fire" has been on the Commandant of the Marine Corps reading list for twenty years and claimed that it is the "most-taught piece of literature regarding the Vietnam War" on college campuses. Webb further listed the various accolades his books have received. [cite news|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdEtGaY831w&mode=related&search= |title=Jim Webb Responds Vigorously to False Personal Attacks (video. Webb defense begins at 0:58) |accessdate=2006-12-10 |date=2006-10-29 |publisher=Moving Virginia Forward]

Allen's arrest warrant records

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has criticized Allen for his refusal to release documents that would potentially shed light on the multiple warrants that were issued for his arrest in 1974. [cite web |url=http://www.dscc.org/news/roundup/20061028_allen/ |title=Allen Arrest Records Controversy: Allen Refuses To Release Documents Detailing His Arrest Record|work=DSCC website|date=2006-10-28|accessdate=2006-10-30] The "arrest" was for the lack of a fishing license and fishing out of season.Fact|date=September 2008

Allen supporters attack blogger

On October 31, footage of multiple Allen supporters attacking a constituent, Mike Stark, during a campaign stop in Charlottesville, Virginia began to circulate among various news organizations and online sources. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btMbyDmzs_Q&mode=related&search= YouTube - Allen Staffer Attacks Man ] ] Stark, a liberal blogger, Marine veteran and law student, attempted to ask Allen about his missing arrest records and the reasons for the sealing of his divorce papers. After yelling out a question about rumors of Allen having assaulted his first wife, Stark was "briefly placed in a headlock, restrained, slung to the ground, and forcibly escorted from the hotel by three Allen supporters".cite news|title=Law Student Protester Sparks Political Controversy |last=Snyder |first=Drew |url=http://www.lawweekly.org/?module=displaystory&story_id=1363&edition_id=46&format=html |date=2006-11-02 |accessdate=2006-11-16] Stark was detained several days later at another rally after an Allen supporter claimed Stark pushed him to the ground.cite news|last=Barakat|first=Matthew|publisher=AP|title=Liberal Blogger Taken Into Custody|date=2006-11-04|url=http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/11/04/D8L6KDI80.html|accessdate=2006-11-05]

Telephone intimidation

The FBI has launched an investigation into alleged attempts to intimidate voters in eight counties before the poll.cite news|publisher=CNN|title=FBI launches probe of Virginia pre-election calls|date=2006-11-07|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/07/deceptivecalls.va/]

Virginia's changing politics

Virginia has historically been one of the more conservative Southern states, for instance it was the only Southern state not to vote for Jimmy Carter in 1976, its congressional delegation is mostly conservative, with eight of eleven Congressmen and both Senators belonging to the Republican Party prior to the 2006 election, this made Virginia's Congressional delegation the most Republican of any Southern state. Despite this, Democrats have won the last two gubernatorial races, in 2001 and 2005. The state's political majority has been changing from conservative white to a mixture of races, especially Hispanic. The state is increasingly diverse; it has the highest percentage of Asians (4.7%, according to the 2005 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census) of any Southern state. 9.9% of Virginians are foreign-born. [cite news | url = http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=01000US&_geoContext=01000US&_street=&_county=&_cityTown=&_state=04000US51&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2005_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= | title=Virginia - Fact Sheet - American FactFinder | publisher=United States Census Bureau] Webb, like Governor Tim Kaine in 2005, won the four major fast-growing counties in Northern Virginia outside Washington, D.C.; Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington.

Polling

See also

* United States Senate elections, 2006
* Virginia gubernatorial election, 2005

External links

* "Meet the Press" with Allen and Webb: [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14892058/ debate video excerpts] , and [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14815993/ debate transcript]
* [http://virginia.va.lwvnet.org/files/us_senate_voters_guide_nov_2006.pdf#search=%22Virginia%20Senate%20candidate%20guide%22 2006 Voter’s Guide] by the League of Women Voters of Virginia
* cite web
url = http://sbe.vipnet.org/
title = "Commonwealth of Virginia: November 7, 2006 General Election: Unofficial Results"
work = State Board of Elections website
publisher = Virginia Interactive (Commonwealth of Virginia)
accessdate = 2006-11-08 Updated every 2 minutes.
* Maps & graphic displays of the 2006 Virginia election results @ [http://www.vaelection.org www.VaElection.org]

Campaign websites

* [http://www.georgeallen.com/ George Allen]
* [http://www.webbforsenate.com/ Jim Webb]
* [http://www.gailparker.us/ Gail Parker]

References

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
title= Virginia U.S. Senate elections
before= 2002
John Warner
after= 2008
years= 2006