POLITICAL JOLT – AT 6:16 P.M. ET:  Democratic Senator James Webb of Virginia has announced that he will not run for reelection in 2012, leaving the Senate after one term.  Webb's announcement further weakens the shrinking bloc of moderate Dems in the Senate.

The Webb withdrawal may open the way for a return to the Senate of Republican former Senator (and Governor) George Allen, whom Webb defeated in 2006 after Allen uttered what was hyped by some as a vague racial slur.  The incident was wildly exaggerated, but the Washington Post used it against Allen to severe effect.  Before his defeat, Allen was considered a possible GOP presidential candidate.

Allen, though, faces competition for the Republican nomination from a Tea Party candidate, Jamie Radtke.  Reader Bruce Goldman alerted us to that candidate's new website, just announced:

http://radtkeforsenate.com/

And whoever wins the GOP nod won't have a clear run.  Former Democratic Governor Tim Kaine, who retains considerable popularity in Virginia, may well run for Webb's seat.  However, Kaine is the Democratic national chairman, and is close to President Obama, which may drag him down in the state he once governed.

Stay tuned. 

February 9, 2011