Senate Race Fast Becomes An Escalating Duel of Insults

Sen. George Allen, left, and James Webb were mostly civil during a debate in Hot Springs. (By Steve Helber -- Associated Press)

RICHMOND -- The campaign staff of Sen. George Allen (R) describes his Democratic opponent, James Webb, as a Hollywood elitist running a "joke" of a campaign. They call him "Junior."

Webb's team implies that Allen is a rich jock with a fondness for dude ranches and a weird middle name. They call him "Felix."

The election is more than three months away, but the two campaigns are locked in an increasingly nasty effort to characterize the other before voters form their own impressions.

The mean statements aren't coming directly from Webb or Allen, who have tried to stay above the fray. But their strategists, press release writers and spokespeople have been lobbing insults and carefully scripted zingers that they hope will stick to their opponent until the Nov. 7 election.

Allen campaign officials say that Webb, a former Marine who worked in the Reagan administration, is more familiar with Hollywood than Virginia, having written eight novels and helped produced a few movies.

Webb campaign officials say that Allen -- a former governor who grew up in Los Angeles but wears cowboy boots and rides horses -- acts like a country bumpkin and has close ties to President Bush and the oil industry.

Last week, Webb sent out a news release mocking Allen's effort to create an "American Cowboy Day" instead of sponsoring a bill in Congress to make it easier for Iraq war veterans to pay for college. In a debate earlier, Allen had said he wouldn't introduce a new G.I. Bill because the Senate moves too slowly.

The release -- titled "Yee Ha" -- was littered with stereotypes of how cowboys speak.

"Well listen up there missy! Galloping George Allen, has went and made a bill in that there Amerrycan Congriss! And we'll be darned tootin, if it ain't a legislatin aimed square at us cowpokes! . . . YEE HA Pardner! We're bustin with so much pride our chaps are chaffing!"

It continued, "Seems this Counterfeit California Cowboy went and named Ju-lie 22nd as the big day so load your ivory handled six guns, strap on your Sunday spurs, and head to town for the most ro otinin tootinin sell-ee-bray-shun we've seen in these parts since Wild Bill rode to town with Potato Creek Johnny and begun the gamblin' trade in these parts."

A day earlier, while highlighting Allen's resistance to a Democratic plan to raise the minimum wage, Webb strategist Steve Jarding sent out a statement referring to Allen's father, who was coach of the Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Rams.

"Gladhanding George who was born with a silver football toothguard in his mouth, has no time, no concept, no clue," Jarding said.