A Matter of Loyalty And Party Principles

Tuesday's Winner to Face Allen in Nov.

Who is the real Democrat?

That is the question that has dominated the brief, but intense, campaign for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. On Tuesday, voters in Virginia will decide whom they want to oppose Republican Sen. George Allen in the Nov. 7 general election.

The first candidate to get into the race was Harris Miller, 54, a former lobbyist for technology companies who quit to campaign full time. Later, former U.S. Navy secretary James Webb, 60, joined the fray.

Since then, both men have been campaigning across the state, seeking endorsements and raising money in the hopes of wooing Democrats to the polls next week. And each has questioned the other's loyalty to the party and to Democratic principles.

That argument peaked last month during a taping for a televised debate.

"At the end of the day, when we were fighting in the trenches to defeat George Bush and George Allen in 2000, you weren't just voting for them, you were publicly endorsing them," Miller said to Webb.

Webb, no shrinking violet, shot back, asking Miller: "Why did you donate money to [House Speaker] Dennis Hastert? I've never given money to a Republican in my life."

Both candidates have their answers to the questions.

Webb has said he was wrong to have backed Allen against Charles S. Robb, the Democratic senator who unsuccessfully sought reelection in 2000. And he said his opposition to the war in Iraq helped him decide to become a Democrat after years of being a Republican.

Miller said donations he made to some senior Republicans were part of his job as chief lobbyist for the Information Technology Association of America. He said he's always been a proud Democrat despite those donations.

Both camps have been furiously raising money to get their messages out. As of June 1, Webb had raised about $547,000, including a $100,000 loan from himself. Miller reported raising about $1.2 million, including several personal loans totaling about $675,000.

Whoever wins Tuesday will face Allen, who has raised more than $7.5 million for his reelection campaign. There is also an independent candidate, Gail Parker, who is running a campaign focused on the need for more rail mass transit. She said she has raised $100 so far.

Here are brief summaries of the campaigns of the two Democrats:

MILLER : With his experience in the technology world, Miller talks often about the need to connect communities to the "high-speed Internet" and to improve training so that displaced workers can find jobs.

Miller supported the decision to invade Iraq after the Sept. 11 attacks but says that the war's execution has been poor. He has joined those calling for President Bush to fire Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

Much of his rhetoric has been focused on Allen, whom he says has failed to address the needs of Virginia and the country.

The former chairman of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee has run a traditional primary campaign.

He has traveled across the state in his hybrid SUV, telling people he has driven more than 21,000 miles since he became a candidate. He appears at festivals, picnics and local party meetings.

And Miller has touted a long list of endorsements from state and local officials, including from almost two dozen state delegates and state senators.

WEBB : A former Marine who was decorated for valor in Vietnam, Webb has focused most of his campaign on foreign policy and his own early opposition to the war in Iraq.

Webb publicly opposed Bush's decision to attack Iraq before the invasion, making him the darling of the antiwar crowd in Virginia despite his refusal during the campaign to call for Rumsfeld's dismissal as defense secretary.

He has also talked about the need for a "new fairness" in America on issues of race and class. He has said that early comments of his that were critical of affirmative action referred to broader diversity programs.

Webb's campaign has been less traditional. He has gathered some local endorsements and has increased his presence at campaign events, but he waited until the end of the campaign to mail literature to voters.

Instead, Webb has focused on gathering endorsements from U.S. senators and other national politicians. Last week, he capped off those endorsements with one from Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate.