Webb Treks to Region That Allen Knows Well

U.S. Senate candidate James Webb is campaigning this weekend through parts of rural Virginia, a politically vital region where he could face a difficult challenge connecting with voters because of his positions on social issues.

About a third of Virginia voters live in rural areas, a sizable voting bloc important to the Democrat, who is locked in a close contest with Sen. George Allen (R). Southern voters have largely abandoned Democrats in elections for federal offices.

This weekend, Webb will crisscross the tobacco fields south of Richmond, meet with supporters near the North Carolina border and attend a fish fry in coal-mining country in southwestern Virginia.

At each stop, Webb will be asking voters to look past social issues that have drawn many rural voters to Republicans and instead make their decision based on economic issues and his background as a former Marine.

"These are natural voters for us once they know where we stand on the issues," Webb said. His ancestors hail from southwestern Virginia, Webb kicked off his campaign in Gate City and he wrote about the region in his book "Born Fighting."

Even so, Webb, who opposes a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and supports abortion rights, acknowledges, "There are a couple of issues people will have a problem with" in rural regions.

Political analysts say Webb, who was secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration, doesn't have to win many of the areas he will visit this weekend. But he can't be trounced there, either. Webb strategists say they hope for a large turnout in Northern Virginia, where Democrats have done well recently. The strategy won't work unless they keep Allen's margins in check in the rest of the state.

Webb "can't rely on the core Democratic base to be elected," said Mark J. Rozell, a professor of public policy at George Mason University.

Republicans say Webb faces an uphill quest, despite his military background, because he has neither the advertising budget nor the conservative credentials needed to convince rural voters he's one of them.

"He's been all over the map on social issues, and I think it looks pretty contrived," said U.S. Rep. Robert W. Goodlatte, a Republican who represents the Shenandoah Valley. "This is a pretty solidly conservative area, and George Allen is very well known here."

Allen, a former governor, has built his political career around appealing to rural voters. He tours the state every year in an RV, has acquired a Southern drawl and rides on horseback in many community parades. On the campaign trail, Allen talks about preserving traditional values, keeping taxes low and investing in a strong national defense.

Allen "has consistently fought on their behalf on the issues they care about," said Dick Wadhams, Allen's campaign manager, adding that Webb is "out of touch."