Hotline: Republicans Will Pressure Allen... Soon

Hotline/National Journal ^ | November 8, 2006

[RWR8189]

Top Republicans in Washington will give Sen. George Allen a few days to take stock of his legal and political options before beginning to pressure him to concede to James Webb. Senior Republican officials and White House aides believe that Webb won the race. Several outside advisers to Allen want him to make the decision quickly; others in his campaign want to make sure that there's no chance a cache of new votes will turn up. One question: when will (will?) the AP call the race? [MARC AMBINDER]

[kalee]

Charlie Brown always falls for it, so do the republicans.

[mrsmith]

"show only 94.81 percent of precincts reporting." That's because every district has a "provisional voter" precinct. These are very small, just the people who voted provisionally.

The big difference will come from mistakes found in the canvassing.

Last year the AG race had a difference of 3400 votes (about) on election night but after the canvas there was only a difference of about 340 in the official count. Mistakes had been made.

[muawiyah]

I didn't like him then. Guy is overrated by his syncophants ~ reminds me a lot of Duncan Hunter.

So, what is it, the officer class has this crew whose job is to say they're all better than they really are or what.

Can you imagine a cocktail party with Web, Hunter, Murtha and Robb present. Gad.

[MineralMan]

Freepers are not measured by the number of their posts, to be quite frank.

People who do not agree with you are not necessarily disruptors...unless you're Jim Robinson, and I don't believe you are.

[muawiyah]

On the other hand the votes haven't all been counted, they are only 2000 apart, and Webb probably lost.

I don't see why you don't care to complete the count.

[marajade]

He still robbed Bush of a victory on election night just as Gore had done.

[muawiyah]

Well la tee dah.

[marajade]

If that is true then Allen has every right to see that they're counted.

Information just isn't out there and being reported.

[MineralMan]

"Well la tee dah.
"

I don't know, but that sounds pretty French to me. Did you have anything substantive to say?

[Vinomori]

Once you get up near 28,000 posts come see me eh!

. . . Anyone with that many posts ought to be kicked out. Haven't you heard of term limits?

[marajade]

Honestly, as a woman especially in the military I wouldn't have even considered voting for Webb for some of things he said about us.

[Dems_R_Losers]

I'm with you. Allen absolutely MUST wait at least until all the military ballots are counted, if only so he can totally embarrass Jim Webb and the Democrats by trouncing him among the military. I want to see Webb and the Washington Post "eat it" when they see Allen carrying the military vote by 2 to 1. Our soldiers know who really cares about them and who is the poseur. If Allen concedes this information will never be known.

I think it is also entirely possible to find another 4000 votes. They have already apparently found 3000 just on transcription errors. There are over 2400 precincts in Virginia so a change of less than 2 votes per precinct would win it for Allen. He is crazy to concede under these circumstances.

[RetiredArmy]

Allen lost. Repubicans lost. America lost. We lost.

[antceecee]

I completely have lost all understanding of what the Whitehouse hopes to accomplish by being the 'nice guys'.

With all the motor voter corruption that undoubtedly made a difference in House races across the country, it's nice to see someone carefully look at this very close race before they certify it.

To quote the Dems - "Every vote should be counted". So let's make sure they were in VA.

[RetiredArmy]

Since the Senate is so close, WHY arent we insisting on sharing committee Chairmanships and and equal number of Majority/minority members like the Donks did in 2002????? Do REPS have no SPINE????????????

You answered your own question.

[conservative in nyc]

Kerry didn't bow out gracefully either. Bush had 120,000 vote margin in Ohio before Kerry decided he couldn't win it.

Allen should just accept he lost and get on with his life.

7,000 (or 4,000 or 2,000 or whatever the real margin in Virginia is) isn't 120,000. Allen likely lost, but I really don't see the harm in letting all the votes be counted and canvassed before Allen concedes. This isn't crying fraud in a crowded room, like the Democrats always do. It's just letting the process run its course.

I also don't see the harm in asking for a recount, if allowed under state law for free, but can see why Allen might not want to do that if he's behind by more than a few thousand after all the votes have been tallied and canvassed. Recounts usually don't change the ultimate result.

[Tanniker Smith]

You counted?

[oceanview]

the "count" won't help Allen.

Webb won with votes that came in with the last .5% that reported - I believe those votes were provisioinal ballots, cast in Dem district held back from reporting until they knew how many votes Webb needed to move ahead.

unless Allen is prepared to challenge those, its over.

[Steven W.]

And this is the problem with the Republicans. They obviously didn't get the message. If there, they need to expose any fraud in the ballotry - but just crying uncle is pathetic.

[bonfire]

AP reported Webb won....per Fox.