NYT: GOP Poised to Tighten Grip on Ga.(only So. Dem Sen. race not toss-up)

[DeepModem Mom]

G.O.P. Is Poised to Tighten Grip on Georgia

By SHAILA K. DEWAN
Published: July 20, 2004


ATLANTA, July 19 - In 2002, Georgia politics seemed to undergo a sudden tilt. Senator Max Cleland, a Democrat, lost his seat to Saxby Chambliss, a Republican. Same with Gov. Roy Barnes, who was ousted by a Republican challenger, Sonny Perdue.

But this year, no one will be taken by surprise if Georgia's second Senate seat goes to the Republicans, even though it is being vacated by a Democrat, Zell Miller, who is retiring.

Mr. Miller, 72, himself personifies a state in political transition. He is a supporter of President Bush who is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention and who wrote a book about Democratic politics called "A National Party No More." Local pundits call him a Republicrat.

Democrats failed to recruit a heavyweight candidate in the Senate race, leaving Tuesday's primary crowded with eight contenders, none with significant statewide experience. It was not for lack of trying. Party leaders were turned down by a host of people, including the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state, a popular former Atlanta mayor, and even Vince Dooley, the University of Georgia's athletic director.

Meanwhile, the Republican primary has a clear front-runner in Representative Johnny Isakson, 59, who holds Newt Gingrich's former seat in an affluent suburban district.

OF THE FIVE SENATE SEATS IN THE SOUTH THAT ARE BEING VACATED BY DEMOCRATS, GEORGIA'S IS THE ONLY ONE THAT IS NOT CONSIDERED A TOSSUP....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/20/politics/campaign/20senate.html

[BootinUp]

1. I really need to move, lol. -eom-

[ClintonTyree]

2. We should.................

write Georgia off. I can see no benefit to wasting a single dime's worth of resources in a state that has obviously lost it's bearings. Sorry Georgians, you've a lovely state but the state of politics there has become outrageously insane. I blame the Democratic leadership in Georgia for letting the situation get this bad.

[Mistress Quickly]

3. It is the party leaders fault

They got fat and lazy and took it for granted people would vote for them, and quit working, and the Repukes came sneaking up on them and blindsided them.

They better hope Herman Cain doesn't get the puke nomination. He may actually pull minority votes from the Dems.

What happened in my fair state?

[The Icon Painter]

4. What Happened?

I'm an Atlantan, thank g-d. This seems to be the only part of Georgia that is not totally politically and religiously insane. What happened? We got suckered by those damn' voting machines in 2002 and we were too dumb to see that ol' Zell was truly a 'zig-zagger' and was due to go the other way just about the time he was appointed to the Senate. I don't expect to see this state recover from its madness in my lifetime but do dream that someday in the distant future it will throw off the shackles of the Baptists et alia and come to its senses.

[WI_DEM]

5. what a crying shame about Georgia

it was once one of the more moderate southern states producing one of the great humanitarians of all-time, Jimmy Carter and also the homestate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now it has been taken over by the neo-cons.

[dolstein]

6. We can thank the "resign to run" law for this

One of the reasons why the DSCC had a harm time recruiting a candidate is because the most obvious choices -- Democrats currently holding statewide office -- would have had to resign from office in order to run.

Of course, this still doesn't explain why some high profile Democrats who currently hold no office -- Max Cleland, Roy Barnes, Jimmy Carter, Andrew Young, among others -- weren't willing to run.

There is simply no excuse for not contesting this state. Would it have been an uphill battle? Sure. But Georgia is not the one party state that some DU'ers around here suggest. Unfortunately, it could soon become a one party state if the Democrats simply choose to abandon the battlefield.

[stanwyck]

7. I still have a glimmer of hope

for my home state. I think we'll see a stronger showing for Kerry than anyone expects. Especially if the younger people show up at the polls. If we can mobilize younger voters and make sure all minorities show up on election day, we might stage an upset.
I voted for Cynthia McKinney this morning. Do you want to know who votes in primaries in my district? Old people. Very old people. Nothing wrong with that...but we're going to have to turn out a large, diverse group if we want to make progress in Georgia.

[Bandit]

8. Georgia is a lost cause

I was stationed in Georgia (Ft Stewart) in the early seventies and I have been in virtually every state at one time or another and Georgia is the only state that earned it citizens their own nickname "Grits". I have many friends of color and Georgia is the only state where we were refused service and a motel room because I was with someone of color. I never had this happen to me in Mississippi or Missouri only in Georgia. Also at that time the law stated that a person convicted of pot possession could get ninty nine years. A very backward (and proud of it) state. Saw Easy Rider there when it first came out and the place erupted with cheers when they were killed at the end. :shrug:

[stickdog]

9. Thanks, Diebold! Thanks, Cathy Cox! (nt)

[Elginoid]

10. Illinois' repuglican seat is going to Democrat Barak Obama-

so that at least evens out the georgia thing.

[ButterflyBlood]

11. this whole article is incorrect

this is a Republican-held seat that will most likely be retained by the Republicans. It's not a Democratic seat, regardless of whether or not the current piece of crap sitting in it has a D next to his name.