George Allen |

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Full Name: George Felix Allen

Current Office: U.S. Senator, Virginia. Elected Nov 7, 2000. (first term)

Born: Whittier, California, on March 8, 1952

Education: Graduate of the University of Virginia (1974) and the University of Virginia Law School (1977)

Religion: Presbyterian

Family: Married to Susan Brown. They have three children, Tyler, Forrest, and Brooke. His father, George Herbert Allen, was the legendary former football coach for the L.A. Rams and Washington Redskins.

Significant Career Experience:

Law Clerk to Judge Glen Williams, 1977-78
Attorney, 1978-91 and 1998-2000
GOP nominee for Virginia House of Delegates, 1979
Member, Virginia House of Delegates, 1982-1991
Member, US House of Representatives, 1991-93 (Nov. 1991 Special Election)
Governor of Virginia, 1994-98
US Senator, 2001 - present
Chair, National Republican Senatorial Committee, 2003-05

Known for his relentless use of football metaphors, Allen is the coaches’ pick heading into the presidential primaries. With executive experience, a record of moderation in the senate, and a proven ability to rally the socially conservative base of the Republican party, it’s no wonder a survey of 175 Washington insiders by National Journal’s “The Hotline” on April 29, 2005 crowned Allen the frontrunner for the Republican nomination.

Since election to the senate 2000, Allen has worked to both please his conservative base and remain in touch with more moderate voters in increasingly democratic Virginia. He compiled a record that places him among the more conservative members of congress, but has supported several pieces of progressive legislation, such as expanding health care benefits for inactive Reserve and Guard members. Overall, however, Allen is one of President Bush’s best friends in the senate, voting with him the majority of the time.

Walking the tightrope between his conservative base and the rest of Virginia has brought him into flop-flop territory as well. While he emphasized his support for renewing the assault weapons ban during his campaign against a suburban-focused Chuck Robb in 2000, he abruptly changed course in 2004, calling it a “meaningless, toothless law with virtually no impact on crime” and voted against it.

Allen brings a depth of knowledge on technology issues, sponsoring a $3.7 billion dollar nanotechnology research bill in 2003, backing anti-spam legislation, and was the lead sponsor for a bill to extend the moratorium on internet taxes, despite the protests of governors of both parties.

He’ll have ample money and support for a presidential bid from his successful tenure at the Republican National Senate Committee from 2003-2004, where in Allen’s own words they “exceeded all expectations.” He raised money all over the country and helped the republicans pick up four senate seats, primarily in the south.

As governor from 1993-1997, Allen shed much of his reputation as a conservative backbencher and intellectual lightweight, which defined much of his first tenure in the state capitol in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1982-1991. He won the Republican nomination in 1993 by appealing to the social conservatives in the 13,000 delegate republican state convention.

Perhaps Allen’s most valuable quality is his combination of a George W. Bush-esqe swagger and the sunny optimism of Ronald Reagan. He wears cowboy boots, chews Copenhagen, and talks football like only the son of a football legend can.

While George Allen may look great on paper, however, he is still relatively unknown outside of Virginia and republican circles. To get traction heading into 2008, Allen will have to prove he can translate his potential into reality and go toe to toe with candidates with much higher profiles and greater fundraising ability. Still, he’s the hot ticket for folks in the know right now, as evidenced by his recent hire of top republican campaign manager Dick Wadhams, right off of John Thune’s successful campaign against former Minority Leader Tom Daschle.

See also