[Da Bilge Troll]

Well in Va we watched the Allen “Macaca Debacle” in 2008.

Exactly. Allen "did the right thing" and withdrew, didn't he? And his replacement won, right? No? So how was it having a lunatic liberal senator for 6 years even though everyone "did the right thing"? Was that an improvement?

[Reily]

No he didn't and that's the point!
It was an excellent playing out of why withdrawing might have been a good idea. Though I think his “gaffe” doomed him and any that might have followed. Also Webb superficially was an attractive candidate, 'war hero', claimed to be a blue collar independent democrat. Of course those that actually knew him knew better!

McCaskill's natural loathsomeness may still save the day for Atkin. I hope it does.