A single word uttered at a campaign stop shifted the 2006 Virginia Senate race
In short: In the 2006 Virginia Senate election, incumbent George Allen held a commanding lead until a recorded incident involving a campaign volunteer changed everything. The narrow contest, decided by just 0.4%, ultimately determined control of the United States Senate, marking the last time a Virginia senator lost a reelection bid.
The 2006 race pitted Republican incumbent George Allen against Democratic challenger Jim Webb. Allen, a former governor and representative, was widely considered a potential presidential candidate for 2008. Webb, a decorated Vietnam veteran and former secretary of the Navy, entered the race in February 2006. While Allen maintained a significant fundraising advantage—reporting $6.6 million on hand by mid-September compared to Webb’s $1.1 million—the political landscape shifted dramatically following an event on August 11, 2006.
During a campaign stop in Breaks, Virginia, Allen singled out S.R. Sidarth, a volunteer for the Webb campaign, calling him "Macaca" and telling him to welcome himself to the "real world of Virginia." Sidarth, who is of Indian ancestry, was born and raised in Fairfax County. The incident was filmed and spread rapidly online. While Allen initially claimed he made the word up, his campaign later suggested it was a mispronunciation of a nickname staff had given Sidarth, "Mohawk." Others speculated the term was a neologism combining "mohawk" and "caca," a slang term for excrement.
The controversy, alongside differences on the Iraq War and other policy issues, eroded Allen's lead. By late October, polls showed Webb with a narrow advantage. The election remained undecided for nearly 48 hours after polls closed on November 7, 2006. Allen finally conceded on November 9, 2006, after trailing by approximately 0.3%. Webb’s victory, with 49.6% of the vote to Allen’s 49.2%, was the closest race of the 2006 cycle and proved decisive in swinging control of the U.S. Senate to the Democratic Party.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2006 United States Senate election in Virginia
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