Sen. Jim Webb won't run for reelection in 2012 (D-VA)

Washington Post ^ | February 9, 2011 | Ben Pershing

[Hawk720]

Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) has announced that he will not run for reelection in 2012.

Webb's decision, long anticipated by many in Virginia politics, will make his seat more difficult to hold for his party. Ex-Sen. George Allen (R), who lost the seat in 2006 to Webb, is running to win it back, and a handful of other GOP candidates are also running. Some Democrats hope ex-Gov. Tim Kaine will decide to run for the seat, but he has given no indication yet that he is interested.

[juliej]

I would love to see that phony, Casey, fall. Schumer recruited him to run against Santorum. Also, I would love to see Talent take back his old seat in Missouri. And in a couple of years, I would love to see Al Franken-Stein lose in Minnesota - he stole that race.

[investigateworld]

John Belushi voice;

"I hate people who write kiddie porn."

[proudpapa]

Now we’ll learn how liberal he really is.

[AuH2ORepublican]

I don’t know whether I’d rather run against Webb or whichever Democrat ends up running; unless it’s someone who voted for Obamacare in the House (like Periello) or was publicly in favor of it (like Kaine), you know that the Democrat will pretend that he would not have voted for Obamacare and will vote to uphold traditional Virginia values.

[TexasFreeper2009]

It would of been easier to take the seat with someone running who voted for Obamacare.

[mwl8787]

Allen will be a solid nominee and will defeat Kaine. Kaine has so many pro-BO sound bites as chair of the DNC that he can be defeated handily.

[CharlesWayneCT]

I don’t think there is any chance Ken would go that route. I think he’s in the “train of advancement” for governor, in two terms. Although I recently spoke with a well-connected figure in Virginia politics and he told me what the plan was, and I simply can’t remember.

Another name to watch is Corey Stewart, who currently is the Chair of the Prince William County BOS. Another long-shot would be Bob Marshall, who challenged Jim Gilmore in the convention for the 2008 race against Warner, and almost beat him (Gilmore was crushed by Warner of course in the General). But I haven’t seen any indication at this point that Marshall is interested in that, or of moving into a Virginia Senate seat (which I expected he might do, since they only run every 4 years, while delegates run every 2).

There are a lot of names available for this race, so it could be more interesting than is “comfortable”.

[mmanager]

Biden replacement for the 2012 ticket?

[juliej]

I want to see Al Franken fall. He stole that election from Coleman and that was truly disgusting. I would also like to see Little Debbie Stabenow lose. Didn’t her husband get involved in some scandal????? And then there is that old coot, Frank Lausenberg in New Jersey. The creep manages to make Herman Munster look human.

[Phlap]

The democrat primary should be hilarious.

[HokieMom]

I like Cuccinelli, too. I’ve heard he wants to see his initiatives as Attorney General to the end. I’m interested in learning more about Peter Pace.

[Tzimisce]

The polling data is in......

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Watch Webb challenge Obama. He or Kucinich will try.

[Corin Stormhands]

Allen will be the nominee and I will do everything I can to help him win.

Also running are former Tea Party Chair Jamie Radtke and Bishop E.W. Jackson from Chesapeake. Delegate Bob Marshall and Prince William County Chair Corey Stewart are also expected to get in the race. Ken Cuccinelli has said he’s not interested.

The more crowded the race, the better for Allen. Allen has the organization, will have the money.

We original A-Team members can’t wait to get in the fight.

[K-Stater]

Kaine would be about the only Democrat who could hold on to the seat. Even then it’d be a tough fight.

[Corin Stormhands]

Kaine as the nominee would be a gift.

http://www.bearingdrift.com/2011/02/09/dear-democrats-please-nominate-tim-kaine/

[novemberslady]

Biden replacement for the 2012 ticket?

It would be a mistake for him.
Unless he wants to roll around with bambi in the mud and get really dirty too.

Don't let them lie to you Jim -Bambi's making Jimmy Carter look good...

[The Pack Knight]

A potential wrinkle in what we were discussing concerning McDonnell the other day.

It looks like George Allen is already committed to running for the seat, but considering his weakness as a candidate, there might be some pressure on McDonnell from some quarters to run and secure a Republican pickup.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Cantor has only one goal. He wants to become the first Jewish Speaker of the House.

[The Pack Knight]

Biden replacement for the 2012 ticket?

Maybe. There might be an outside chance that he's thinking of running against Obama in the primaries. Despite his vote for ObamaCare, he is considered one of the faces of the Blue Dogs, and might be considered more appealing to the left-leaning independents and moderate Democrats who are fed up with Obama.

Not that I think he'd have a chance of beating Obama, mind you - he has absolutely no chance of cracking into the black vote, which means he has no chance of winning. I just think it's plausible that he might run.