<p>"You don't brood over mistakes. You learn from 'em and you improve," George Allen the former Virginia senator, running to reclaim the seat, told hundreds of social conservatives at a conference in Washington Friday.<br /><br />"And during my last campaign, I never should have singled out that young man working for my opponent, calling him a name," he said referring to his Democratic rival's campaign volunteer SR Sidarth.<br /><br />"He was just doing his job. I was wrong to do that to him, and it diverted our campaign away from the real issues that families care about."<br /><br />His "macaca moment" provided him an opportunity to reflect on his career and the direction of the country, said Allen, who was considered a shoo-in before what was seen as a racial slur turned public opinion against him.<br /><br />"My family had to endure a lot of taunts and insults because of my mistake, and I never want to have them have to go through something like that again," Allen said.<br /><br />"Ladies and gentleman, these last five years have given me the opportunity to reflect on all that's happening in our great country."<br /><br />Allen lost to Democrat Jim Webb in 2006. Webb announced in February that he will not seek re-election, setting up a possible clash of the titans between Allen and former Democratic Governor Tim Kaine.<br /></p>
<p>"You don't brood over mistakes. You learn from 'em and you improve," George Allen the former Virginia senator, running to reclaim the seat, told hundreds of social conservatives at a conference in Washington Friday.<br /><br />"And during my last campaign, I never should have singled out that young man working for my opponent, calling him a name," he said referring to his Democratic rival's campaign volunteer SR Sidarth.<br /><br />"He was just doing his job. I was wrong to do that to him, and it diverted our campaign away from the real issues that families care about."<br /><br />His "macaca moment" provided him an opportunity to reflect on his career and the direction of the country, said Allen, who was considered a shoo-in before what was seen as a racial slur turned public opinion against him.<br /><br />"My family had to endure a lot of taunts and insults because of my mistake, and I never want to have them have to go through something like that again," Allen said.<br /><br />"Ladies and gentleman, these last five years have given me the opportunity to reflect on all that's happening in our great country."<br /><br />Allen lost to Democrat Jim Webb in 2006. Webb announced in February that he will not seek re-election, setting up a possible clash of the titans between Allen and former Democratic Governor Tim Kaine.<br /></p>