Op-Ed

A Guide to the Gaffe

Gaffes seem to be gushing as much as Gulf Coast oil. John Boehner’s antsy metaphor and Joe Barton’s apology to BP were heartfelt PR disasters. After his interview, General McChrystal was on his own, like a rolling stone. Last month, it was Carly Fiorina caught on camera mocking her general-election opponent Barbara Boxer for hair Read More

George Allen to Speak

Sen . George Allen will be making a statement at 3pm at the Carlyle House in Alexandria, according to a staffer in Allen’s campaign. The campaign will not discuss the subject of his remarks, but the staffer added “I assume that his family will be with him.”

And, coincidentally, Chuck Schumer will be rallying Read More

Virginia’s Other Candidate

The day after the election — as the AP was declaring victory for the Democrats in Virginia and, therefore, the Senate — the less-talked-about candidate in that squeaker of a race was on her way to Oklahoma, to check on one of her daughters who had been having health problems.

Glenda Gail Parker, a Read More

Finally Over?

George Allen is basically standing by while the initial step in a recount process takes place and all the precincts are canvassed.

“This is an automatic process that’s happening,” said a staffer with the Allen campaign. “You can’t be proactive about this.”

The process has to be finished by Tuesday.

In the meantime, Read More

Virginia recount

Word is that the Virgiia Senate race will end up in a recount, potentially leaving control of the Senate unsettled well into this week. George Allen continues to lead Jim Webb by about 12,000 votes with roughly four percent of precincts yet to report.

Crunching the Numbers in Virginia. Recount?

About 7 percent of Virginia’s precincts remain outstanding, with George Allen holding onto a lead of about 17,000 votes over Jim Webb, his Democratic challenger. So where are the uncounted ballots from? The answer is mainly from Prince William and Loudoun Counties in northern Virginia and the city of Richmond. Webb figures to gain some Read More

Jim Webb is in Serious Trouble

Democrat Jim Webb is running out of chances in Virginia. He now lags 20,000 votes behind Republican George Allen with 93 percent of ballots tallied — an improvement for Allen, whose lead had shrunk inside of 10,000 votes not too long ago.

– Steve Kornacki

Virginia’s Cliff-Hanger

With 85% of precincts reporting in Virginia, Republican incumbent George Allen and Democrat Jim Webb are in a dead heat (Allen at 49.54%, Webb at 49.26%).

Spoiling this whole race is the independent candidate who is pulling in 1.11%.

– Azi Paybarah

No Senate Losses for Democrats

Ben Cardin has fended off Republican Michael Steele in Maryland, all but ensuring that Democrats will not lose a single Senate seat in 2006. Republicans had also made noise about knocking off Democratic incumbents in New Jersey and Michigan, but their candidates in those states have come up far short. One other Senate Democrat, Read More

The Nader of Virginia

85 percent of the ballots have been tallied, and about 8,000 votes separate Democrat Jim Webb from George Allen in Virginia’s Senate race. Is it too soon to ask whether Green Party candidate G.G. Parker — who has received over 20,000 votes so far — will thwart Democratic efforts to win this state?