The Washington Post endorses Webb

The Post editorial board not only endorses Webb but calls out Allen for being an ineffective caveman.

THE U.S. SENATE race in Virginia pits a novice politician, Democrat James Webb , against a much more experienced one, incumbent Republican George Allen, who spent much of the early fall obliterating his reputation for amiable charm and political deftness. As Mr. Allen has partially admitted, his wounds in the close race have been mostly self-inflicted and have left a sour taste in the mouths of many Virginians. Still, there is an even better reason to vote against Mr. Allen: Quite simply, he is a mediocre senator whose six years of undistinguished service do not justify rehiring.

[Snip]

Many of the initiatives that Mr. Allen has undertaken in the Senate are the easy stuff -- relatively noncontroversial measures that lavish money and favors on his constituents. Nothing wrong with that, if it's part of a broader record of accomplishment. But while Mr. Allen has proposed some worthwhile bills -- for instance, to expand investment in nanotechnology and to help historically black colleges and universities upgrade their telecommunications infrastructure -- his legislative contributions have been marginal at best. He is no one's idea of a heavyweight in the Senate.

Virginians deserve better and more enlightened representation. Mr. Webb offers that hope [emphasis mine].

Ouch. I love the “more enlightened” bit. And the editorial is right about Allen's ineffectiveness; the biggest concern for the Commonwealth of late has been transportation. Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads are facing gridlock in the coming years and Allen has hardly been a champion for the state. As a matter of fact, transportation is something he talks about only after blathering on about more tax cuts, how great the war is going, or any of the social wedge issues that conservatives love to flog.

It is time to elect someone that actually believes government can solve problems rather than another wingnut convinced that government (and gays) are the root of all evil. Virginians do deserve better. The election is 19 days away.