Centrists and liberals alike love Webb's military credentials and strong antiwar stance. That combination helped him beat onetime GOP White House favorite George Allen for Virginia's junior Senate seat in 2006. Webb's blunt speaking style and Vietnam experience make him popular among working-class whites, and he would boost Obama's chances in Virginia, a longtime Republican base that the Democrats would love to flip this election year. He can be a loose cannon, though, and often comes across as flat on the campaign trail. In the past, Webb has also alienated women with a history of controversial statements on integrating them into the military.
by Massimo Calabresi, with reporting by James Downie/Washington