RICHMOND, Va. - When Sen. Chuck Robb (R) took the stage last night to the cheerful strains of a John Phillip Sousa march, I could have sworn I was about to witness a victory speech. But as anybody reading this paper knows, it was a concession.
Even in defeat, Robb remained gracious and enthusiastic, thanking his supporters, and encouraging them to keep fighting for the resurgence of the Democratic Party in Virginia. Such a display of emotion has not often been seen during his 12 years in the Senate.
Charles Robb avoided flashy politics, putting his passion into the everyday tasks of effective legislating. Yet in the end, his inability to communicate this zeal for public service to the electorate cost him his job.
Over the past weeks, many pundits have bemoaned Robb's supposed lack of passion for his job. But the senator who took the stage Tuesday night was a dedicated man who clearly loved his state and his chosen profession.
Robb spoke of his appreciation for his supporters and his staff, as any politician does on Election Night. But he also thanked the "many organizations that care about priorities, and have given [him] strength" to fight for his principles.
In an interesting twist, Robb admitted that when he first started his political career, he did not feel as strongly as the activists about many issues did, but that his enthusiasm for these topics and principles had grown over time.
Over and over again, Robb's supporters tonight spoke of a man who sought quiet results, not television cameras on the Senate floor. Supporter Katharine Maddox McGregor, a veteran staffer from the 1994 campaign, said that Robb "did a very good job but was not in the limelight ... people want someone who will be out on the [Senate] floor."
In this era of intensely media-focused campaigns, the candidate who can grandstand will always have an advantage over a candidate like Robb, whom The Washington Post described as "a policy wonk with a Marine's bearing" ("For Robb, Allen, One Last Push," Nov. 4).
Vice President Al Gore's problem of losing voters to the more affable Texas Gov. George W. Bush seems to be contagious.
Unfortunately for Robb, he had an opponent who could satisfy the public's craving for a candidate that would energize them with his personality.
McGregor sees this campaign as different from the 1994 race because in Oliver North, Robb had an opponent that people either loved or hated. Allen, on the other hand, "was able to sway the people" by putting a "more moderate spin" on controversial positions such as gun control.
Many of Robb's opponents characterized his decision to stay in the Senate until the bitter end as evidence that he was too much of a Washington insider and not close enough to the people. Such a point of view lacks a true understanding of Robb, but he has not helped the situation with his comment that he is "a United States senator first, a Virginian second" ("Politics Isn't So Local," The Washington Post, Nov. 4).
In the context of a debate, this statesmanlike - perhaps even presidential - attitude inspires the die-hard patriots. But in the 30-second commercial blitz of the past month, such an outlook could be, and often was, twisted to make Robb appear out of touch.
Once he was on the campaign trail, Robb did not disappoint his core supporters, energizing both African-Americans and Northern Virginians.
Former Democratic Senate candidate Mark Warner argued defensively that "nobody can say Robb wasn't campaigning hard" at a recent Alexandria rally. But such a display came too little, too late, and in the wrong location to close the gap.
As a senator, Chuck Robb displayed a rare passion for public service. Unfortunately, however, consistency doesn't win swing voters, charisma does. In his concession speech, Robb predicted that the Democrats would win the top three state posts next year. Warner has predicted a "spirited campaign for governor."
To win, the Democrats must learn from Robb's example and begin boosting spirits now.
(Elizabeth Managan is a Cavalier Daily columnist.)
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