I periodically have called Larry Sabato and asked that question. Even as Allen has taken a brutal beating, Sabato (who is not usually considered a big fan of the senator) has always resolutely answered, “no.” Today, for the first time, he allows that he could. In light of the recent polls, he says, “I’ve got to question my assumptions.” He speculates–and it’s only speculation–that the novel attack might have back-fired. “I run into people who aren’t Democrats and they all think those attacks were ridiculous”–in addition to playing into the negative image of Allen. On the other hand, he says the book attack did serve the important tactical purpose of keeping Webb from punching through on Iraq at the time Webb was giving the response to Bush’s radio address. Anyway, he says, “I now think it is concievable that he could lose,” emphasizing the word “concievable.” He ranks the vulnerability of the GOP seats that have seen so much focus of late in this order: MO first, VA second, and TN third (he used to rank VA as the least vulnerable). For what it’s worth…