Cantor, Webb on Election Travel Circuit

Neil H. Simon
Published: October 21, 2008

WASHINGTON—As campaign volunteers pour into Virginia, some of the state’s biggest-name politicians have left to campaign outside the commonwealth.

Rep. Eric I. Cantor, a Republican, and Sen. Jim Webb, a Democrat, are crisscrossing the country to help their respective party’s candidates in at least nine states in the run up to November 4.

The visits – some requested by candidates, others by the national political campaigns – are a sign of the influence the two men have within their parties.

Webb is campaigning this week in Georgia and Mississippi for two Senate candidates in toss-up races before heading to Los Angeles for a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Last week Webb did five campaign stops for fellow Virginia Democrats.

In Georgia, Webb helped Jim Martin, a fellow Vietnam War veteran and Democrat, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a Republican. Polls show Chambliss leading, but the race statistically tied.

“I would certainly like to have either 60 votes or the type of working majority where we can get things done,” Webb said. Democrats currently hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate. It takes 60 votes to overcome a filibuster and move controversial legislation in the Senate.

Webb also campaigned in Mississippi for Democrat Ronnie Musgrove. Polls show him in a dead heat with Republican Roger Wicker.

“It’s a continuation of the type of thing I was talking about when I decided to run in Virginia in ’06,” Webb said. “It’s time for the Reagan Democrats to come back to the Democratic Party and for the Democratic Party to look after the issues that concern them in the first place.”

Webb said he talks about national security issues and economic fairness at the out-of-state events, and said the fundraising is easier.

“It’s easier to ask you…to give money to somebody else than to ask you to give money to me,” he said.

Cantor, the Deputy Republican Whip in the House, is on a national tour of his own to help Republicans in battleground districts in Alabama, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada and Washington State.

“Our candidates have taken a firm stance that we don’t need to raise taxes,” said Cantor, who helps new candidates with advice and fundraising.

Cantor, who is Jewish, helps fundraise in Jewish communities, he said, and brings an economic message to the areas he visits.

“This is a referendum on who can lead our economy back,” Cantor said. “Do you want to drift toward state-centered control of much what goes on?” he asked.

For the last ten days of the campaign, both Cantor and Webb plan to be in Virginia – Cantor for his own race in the 7th district and Webb to help House candidates and presidential candidate Barack Obama.

(Contact Neil Simon at or (202) 662-7669.)
Cantor, Webb on Election Travel Circuit