Reply #22: We'll never know how Webb's amendment would have fared without the ad.

[pampango]

The RW was able to whip up hysteria about it and influence some GOP senators. There were analysts on both sides who thought it had a chance of passing and did in fact attract 6 GOP senators. There were others who were waivering. Gordon Smith was one of the repubs who voted for the amendment and his opinion was that the ad probably cost us some more votes. No one knows if that is true or not, but it wouldn't have taken many more votes for the amendment to pass.

In the long run ('08) I still think the MoveOn ad is a winner for us. Even though it may have cost us a few GOP votes on the Webb amendment, then those GOPers who stuck with Bush instead will pay the price in the next election.