Political experts said Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, in his response to the State of the Union address, delivered the Democrats’ Iraq message well, but fell short on selling a new economic plan.
In the eight-minute speech, Webb echoed popular campaign themes of economic populism and a diplomatic approach to stopping sectarian violence and getting U.S. troops out of Iraq.
“I thought Jim Webb had the best performance I’ve ever seen from Jim Webb,” said Sean O’Brien, executive director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. “He appeared relaxed and confident; he was aggressive without being mean.”
“I think the Democrats are probably pretty happy today,” he said. “People who stayed around to watch the Democratic response were probably pretty impressed.”
O’Brien said Webb was effective in presenting himself to the nation as a strong critic of military policy.
Webb, a decorated combat veteran, used a family picture to show his military heritage and spoke of his son who is serving of Iraq. Previously, Webb had refused to link his personal experience with the military with his views on U.S. policy.
“He may have realized that it’s not playing politics to use his family,” O’Brien said. “It’s showing people that it’s personal.”
George Washington University Media Affairs Professor Steven Keller said Webb was less effective when discussing the income gap. Webb spoke about skyrocketing CEO pay and difficulties presented to the middle class by rising costs of goods and stagnant wages.
“The economic populism … is so overblown as to be ineffective,” Keller said. “I think people recognize the fact that CEOs are overpaid, but that’s not a criticism of the government.”
“It’s too borrowed, it’s too overused,” he said.
