We learn this about Virginia Senator Jim Webb:

Webb fired up the crowd this morning at the Democratic convention in Hampton asking thousands of activists to support Mark R. Warner for U.S. Senate and Sen. Barack Obama for president this fall.

“People really want to see the right kind of new direction,'’ he said.

Webb, who came out to the stage while Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” blared in the background, spoke about getting people involved in the Democratic party.

“We’re not backing down,'’ he said. “We’re not going away.”

Tom Petty’s been getting a vigorous workout this campaign season.

Who was the last candidate to feature the ageless rocker so prominently in campaign rallies?

Hillary Clinton.  Certainly you remember Hillary’s endless use of the song during her campaign.

Thank goodness Hillary didn’t inspire Webb to associate instead with “American Girl.”

Meantime, Senator-in-waiting Mark Warner told this to the crowd:

“Today’s the day I want to make it clear what I am focused on.  The only job I am running for this year is United States Senate.”

Now there’s a declaration of interest in the vice presidency if we’ve ever heard one.  Here’s betting Barack Obama could get Warner to back down down from that position, real quick-like.