Webb being a Veteran helped him cut into the GOP advantage in Norfolk and Va Beach. Also Webb's "Born Fighting" gimmick helped him in Southwest Va. These factors caused Allen to run behind Bush's numbers. To oust Webb six years from now, we need a veteran to hightlight Webb's expected liberal voting record.
Also it there any word about John Warner retiring? If Mark Warner goes for that Senate seat, it is an easy RAT gain. OTOH, if Mark Warner decides to be Hillary's Veep instead, then the Senate seat is a easy hold for Tom Davis.
Not really. The only Southwest Virginia (and we're talking west of Roanoke) Counties that Webb carried were Buchanan, Dickinson and Russell (and not that wide a margin in Russell).
He didn't even carry his "home" of Scott County. Of course that's Kilgore's home as well.
As for Virginia Beach. Allen carried it 52-46. Kilgore lost VB last year.
My guess on John Warner is that he will decide to retire this time around. He's not going to like giving up his chairmanship and I doubt he'll want to gamble on a GOP re-takeover.