10/07/2006

By BOB LEWIS  / Associated Press

George Allen always did prefer to be the underdog. In defeating entrenched Democrats in both his statewide elections, he dictated the issues of both campaigns.

For the first time, he's an established incumbent whose gaffes about race and his own ethnic roots have eroded his 16-point lead over a political novice, Democrat Jim Webb, and he views Monday night's debate as a crucial opportunity to refocus the campaign on issues more friendly to him.

"All we have to do is continue to point out the differences between Jim Webb and George Allen on the issues, and that's all we have to do to win," said Christopher J. LaCivita, a veteran Republican strategist and one of Allen's closest advisers.

Chief among those differences:

_ Iraq, where Allen backs President Bush's resolve to keep U.S. troops encamped amid the daily sectarian carnage until Iraq's infant government can stanch it and Webb advocates a gradual U.S. withdrawal as neighbor nations oversee the process of stabilizing Iraq and the region;

_ Embryonic stem cell research, which Webb believes should be supported by federal funds and which Allen believes the government has no business underwriting;

_ Same-sex marriage, where Allen supports a statewide voter referendum that would write a ban on it into the Bill of Rights of Virginia's Constitution, and Webb opposes it;

_ Abortion rights, which Webb supports and Allen has opposed.

_ Energy, where Webb favors a tax on oil companies' windfall profits to fund development of renewable energy sources and rolling back oil company tax breaks and Allen backs funding for clean-coal technology, drilling on Alaska's North Slope, greater use of biofuels and boosting U.S. refinery capacity.

For weeks, however, Allen's use in August of the word "macaca," an obscure ethnic slur, against a Webb campaign aide of Indian descent has become a major, long-running burden and, yet more damaging, subjected him to old acquaintances' stories of his alleged use of racial epithets years ago.

And the last time Webb and Allen debated, Sept. 18, Allen accused a questioner of "making aspersions" about his religion by asking whether he had any Jewish ancestors, only to acknowledge in a statement the next day that his mother is Jewish.

After weeks on the defensive, Allen summoned many of his most trusted and familiar advisers from his previous races and his tenure as governor in the 1990s, including Mike Thomas, Betsy Beamer and Jay Timmons.

He took the unprecedented step of airing a two-minute television commercial in Virginia's largest television markets last Monday night aimed at nudging the discourse off his missteps and questions about his character.

This past week, he embarked on the third statewide tour since opening his campaign in April. Saturday was his annual Hoe-Down fundraiser, a cowpoke-themed event that allows donors to sign on as a "buckaroo" for $1,000, as "El Ranchero Grande" for $10,000 or a mere ranch hand for $50.

But Monday is his most conspicuous — and perhaps his last — chance to take Webb on live and unfiltered and reacquaint himself with Virginia's electorate before the Nov. 7 election.

With so much at stake, Allen will have to be wary and agile as he appears knowledgeable and affable, said Mark Rozell, professor of public policy at George Mason University in Fairfax.

"Anything that traps him into the same pattern of sounding defensive and of explaining himself is going to be devastating," Rozell said. "Even if the questions move in that direction, he has to find a way to shift the emphasis onto his territory."

Webb, meanwhile, still faces the chore of introducing himself, Rozell said. The best-selling author, former Reagan administration Navy secretary and decorated Vietnam War veteran was almost unknown outside the Washington Beltway when he entered the race last winter.

"As we know, this has been all about George Allen to this point. To some extent, that's good for Webb. This race is competitive, and it wasn't supposed to be. But now he (Webb) has to give people a positive reason to support him," Rozell said.

Webb strategist Steve Jarding said he's encouraging Webb to relax, let himself smile more and address questions knowledgeably.

"My advice to Jim is to keep doing what you've been doing," he said, and not to worry about Allen trying to trip him up. "Because we can throw Allen off, too. That's an old consultant's trick, the oldest trick in the book."

The debate is set for 8 p.m. in the studios of WCVE-TV, Richmond's Public Broadcasting Service outlet, with up to 10 stations signed up to carry it, said debate producer Richard Lesko.

Questions for Allen and Webb during the hourlong debate will come from the debate moderator, CBS Sunday Evening News anchor Russ Mitchell, from a three-member panel and from each other. Lesko said each man should be able to ask the other at least two questions apiece.

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Bob Lewis has covered Virginia government and politics since 2000.