During the early months of 2006, Virginia Senator George Allen would never have second guessed his reelection. Allen was also a legitimate candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, yet his racist comments have sunken his campaign. Because of the negative remarks he has made, the Republican Party has had to spend an additional $1.4 million on TV ads in an endeavor to salvage his campaign.

Allen has been accused of being a prejudice politician. Supporters at campaign rallies have been seen handing out “I support confederate history month” stickers, and Allen’s first ad for Governor in 1993 portrayed him in his office with a confederate flag hanging behind him. The confederate flag symbolizes the southern advocacy of slavery.

More so, he was caught referring to pesky turtles residing at a pond near his house, that other animals would not eat, Allen said, “only the n...s around here eat ‘em..” This racism has severely disturbed the African-American community. Allen has also called Jim Webb’s 20-year-old volunteer of Indian descent “Macaca,” a derogatory name, meaning a monkey that inhabits the Eastern Hemisphere.

His Democratic Opponent, Jim Webb, has equally disappointed the public. Allen drew attention to sexually explicit passages of “Something to die for” (a novel by Webb, about the Vietnam War). Allen said “[The passages are] very disturbing for a candidate hoping to represent families of Virginians.” Webb responded by emphasizing Jennifer Allen’s autobiography “You ought to read what George Allen’s sister wrote about him if you want to read about attitudes toward females.”

This game of he said-she said, is confusing the public. A recent poll by Opinion Research Corp. shows that 50 percent of voters favored Webb, 46 percent favored Allen, and 4 percent were undecided. The race could sway in either direction.

The deciding factors of this race are based on any future comments, or negative campaigns.