A recent MSNBC/McClatchy poll finds the contest between Republican incumbent George Allen and Democrat James Webb tied with both men polling at 43%. This is a significant setback for the Republicans, who at one time saw Allen leading in the polls by as much as 16 percent.
The MSNBC article referencing the poll can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15065908/
Mr. Allen was considered to be a lock for reelection as recent as 6 months ago and was also viewed as a top contender for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. The fall in the pools can be attributed to more of Mr. Allen's missteps than his challenger's popularity.
Mr. Allen's Democratic challenger Jim Webb was formerly Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan and has been able to benefit greatly from the gaffes coming out of Mr. Allen's mouth. Recently, Mr. Allen called a young Webb staffer of Indian descent (but who happened to have been born in Virginia) "Macaca". The word is considered is considered to be a perjorative term. Instead of owning up to the fact that he learned the term from his mother, Mr. Allen insisted he had "made it up", and wasn't trying to be offensive.
Allen's fortunes have fallen rapidly. Time will tell if he hangs on to his seat. The current polling is not looking positive for him.
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