A battle for the soul of Virginia

Hey Virginia DUers,

More than any election since 1989, I feel this race between Webb and Allen is pivotal in defining Virginia in the national consciousness. Are we part of the solution, or part of the problem? Progressive, or reactionary? Is being a Virginian a source of pride, or shame? If Allen is reelected, in spite of all the progress our Democratic governors have brought in recent years and all the destruction wrought by Republicans at the national level, I will feel personally tainted and shamed by the horrible choice my fellow citizens have made. The same may be true in TN, MO, or MT, yet there I don't get the feeling that the very identity of the state is up for grabs the way it is in Virginia this election. Surely no candidate exemplifies everything evil in his state's history as Allen does in Virginia.

It's already apparent that some DUers are preparing for a divisive interpretation of the results if they are negative. Just as northeastern DUers blamed the South instead of Republicans for Kerry's defeat, I think some northern Virginia DUers are already prepared to blame "those racists in southern Virginia" if Allen wins. Seeing red/blue polarization and divisiveness within my own state is even more alarming than seeing it at the national level. But when a battle for the soul of the state or nation is involved, maybe polarization is inevitable.

CYD (but a Virginia voter now)

Virginia a racist. Nothing could be further from the truth.

And, frankly, I'm seeing an awful lot of Webb signs.