Webb Rallies Support With Obama

Allen mentioned Lambert's support while trying to deflect questions over his calling a Webb aide of Indian descent "macaca" last month. Macaca is a racial slur in some cultures.

Since Allen's remark, Webb has gained in polls, but he still faces hurdles, most notably his opponent's fundraising advantage.

Webb, who spoke yesterday of ending the war in Iraq and doing more to help the middle class, said he isn't fazed by Allen's money advantage.

"Political campaigns should not be an auction. George Allen can buy T-shirts, bumper stickers and signs. . . . But he can't buy this," Webb said of the crowd.

Democrats said Webb is gaining on Allen in the money race.

In the hours after his debate with Allen on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Webb raised more than $130,000 in donations to his Web site, campaign officials said.

Former governor Mark R. Warner (D) will host a high-dollar fundraiser for Webb in Alexandria tonight. On Sunday, best-selling authors John Grisham and Stephen King will headline a fundraiser in Charlottesville.

Webb has written several novels, a fact that Allen's campaign has used to portray the Democrat as out of touch. Allen's latest ad refers to Webb as a "fiction writer," and Wadhams almost always uses the phrase in front of Webb's name.

Yesterday, Obama told the crowd it should be proud of Webb's writing career.

"We have someone who has the sophistication to write some best-selling novels,'' Obama said. "We like our warriors to be scholars and intellectuals as well."