Richmond Mayor Doug Wilder endorsed Democrat Jim Webb Wednesday, a move that some said could swing thousands of voters to the former Navy secretary in the race for U.S. Senate against Republican George Allen.

“I am going to vote for Jim Webb on November 7th, and I am going to ask Virginians to support me in doing that because I think that Jim Webb is the right man for Virginia,” Wilder, a Democrat, said in a statement. “I am very proud to be here today to say publicly: Not only do I intend to vote for Jim Webb, but I endorse him wholeheartedly.”