As polls indicate a near dead heat in the final weeks of Virginia's U.S. Senate race, incumbent Republican Sen. George Allen and Democrat Jim Webb welcome support from President Bush and former President Clinton, respectively, both of whom will trek to Virginia Thursday to campaign for the candidates.
The fact that Bush and Clinton are working with Allen and Webb highlights how important this race has become nationally, according to Politics Prof. Paul Freedman.
"This speaks to the extent to which this particular race has shown up on the radar screens of election-watchers across the country," Freedman said. "The fact that Webb is getting visible support from multiple Clintons and that the president is lending a hand speaks to both how close the race has become and how prominent it has become."
Clinton will appear with Webb at a fundraiser at the McLean home of former Sen. Chuck Robb, D-Va., while Bush fundraises for Allen in Richmond.
Webb spokesperson Kristian Denny Todd said campaign members "are happy to have [Clinton's] support and help," during this last leg of the campaign, and they expect his reception by what some have called "slightly conservative" Virginia voters to be "just fine."
Freedman said while the Webb campaign has "tried to tie Bush and Allen" in an effort to mar Allen's campaign with Bush's low approval ratings, Bush's support will bolster fundraising efforts.
"George Allen needs all the help he can get, and President Bush can certainly help him when it comes to fundraising," Freedman said.
Allen spokesperson Bill Bozin would not comment.
These fundraising efforts come soon after the candidates released their financial reports. Webb raised $3.6 million from July 1 to Sept. 30, while Allen raised $2.6 million during the same period; however, Allen's bank account currently boasts approximately $3 million more than Webb's.
According to Freedman, upcoming campaign events do more than address the financial component of the race; they highlight the candidates' efforts to incite enthusiasm and support.
"Part of [these events] is the money part, and it's also a story about energizing and mobilizing the base," Freedman said. "When it comes to turning out Republicans in Virginia, it doesn't get any better than the president. When it comes to firing up Democrats, former President Clinton is showing that this is becoming a hobby for him."
Freedman added that it is "tough to tell" what these campaign efforts will mean "for people in the middle."
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