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Monday, November 6, 2006
Franklin, Lewis, Young on Fulton County chairman race: ‘You think fighting off dogs and water hoses in the ‘60s was bad?’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Republicans are crying foul over a last-minute radio ad on behalf of John Eaves, the Democratic candidate for Fulton County Commission chairman.
The ad features Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, and former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young, who compare the prospect of a county run by Republicans to the days of Bull Connor.
“You think fighting off dogs and water hoses in the ‘60s was bad?” Lewis intones. Young declares Republican rule would “turn back the clock on equal rights.” Franklin says the work of Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights heroes would be lost.
It’s not clear where the ad is being broadcast, or how frequently — if at all. It was found on Eaves’ campaign web site here. Clearly, the object of the ad is to increase turnout among African-American voters.
In a year when most everything else has fallen the Democrats’ way, there’s some anxiety about African-American turnout — not just in Fulton County but across the country — and the tone of this ad seems to reflect that.
Eaves faces Republican Lee Morris of Buckhead, former member of the Atlanta City Council.
Here’s a rough transcript:
(Sound of kettle drums, followed by pulsing strings)
LEWIS: This is Congressman John Lewis.
FRANKLIN: And I’m Mayor Shirley Franklin.
YOUNG: And I am Andy Young.
LEWIS: On Nov. 7, we face the most dangerous situation we ever have. You think fighting off dogs and water hoses in the ‘60s was bad. [Now we] sit idly by, and let the right-wing Republicans take control of the Fulton County County Commission.
FRANKLIN: The efforts of Martin and Coretta King, Hosea Williams, Maynard Jackson and many others will be lost. That’s why we must stand up, and we must turn out the vote for the Democrats on Election Day.
YOUNG: And especially for John Eaves for Fulton County Commission chairman. Unless you want them to turn back the clock on equal rights, and human rights and economic opportunity for all of us, vote for John Eaves as Fulton County chairman.
LEWIS: Your very life may depend on it.
Can a robo-call keep you at home Tuesday?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Democratic blogs have been buzzing today about hundreds of thousands of robo-calls sent into congressional districts across the nation by Republicans. Dems say the calls are intended to seriously tick off voters — and keep them at home.
Georgia apparently has received its share of the automated calls. A constituent handed U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall’s campaign this recording off her answering machine.
A bit of the transcript: “I’m calling with information about Jim Marshall. As congressman, Jim Marshall voted against $550 billion in tax cuts for families and businesses. And Jim Marshall voted to keep the death tax, and voted against health savings accounts that can help reduce the high cost of health care…..�
At the end of the message, credit for the message is claimed by the National Republican Congressional Committee.
It’s not the content that upsets, necessarily. But if you figure that most people hang up on these messages before they finish, recipients might think that Marshall’s the originator, says the congressman’s spokesman, Doug Moore.
“It’s not us. We are not doing phone calls,� Moore said.
People hate robo-calls. Perhaps that’s why, Moore said, Federal Communications Commission regulations require the sponsor of automated messages to give its name first. And promise heavy fines for violators.
One last poll before the real one happens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Strategic Vision is out with one last poll before tomorrow’s election.
The essentials: 800 likely Georgia voters, contacted Nov. 2-4, and margin of error of 3 percent.
The races:
— Governor: Sonny Perdue (R) (i), 51 percent; Mark Taylor (D), 38 percent; Garrett Hayes (L), 6 percent, and 5 percent undecided. Perdue down slightly, Taylor up slightly from previous SV poll.
— Lieutenant governor: Casey Cagle (R), 49 percent; Jim Martin (D), 39 percent; Allen Buckley (L), 6 percent; and 6 percent undecided. All three candidates up slightly from previous SV poll.
— Secretary of State: Karen Handel (R), 45 percent; Gail Buckner (D), 33 percent; Kevin Madsen (L), 4 percent; and 18 percent undecided. Handel up seven points from previous SV poll, Buckner up three points.
— Attorney General: Thurbert Baker (D)(i), 48 percent; Perry McGuire (R), 36 percent; and 16 percent undecided. Baker up one point, McGuire up three points from previous SV poll.
— School Superintendent: Kathy Cox (R)(i), 49 percent; Denise Majette (D), 35 percent; David Chastain (L), 3 percent; and 13 percent undecided. Two top candidates up slightly from previous SV poll.
— Agriculture Commissioner: Tommy Irvin (D)(i), 48 percent; Gary Black (R), 39 percent; Jack Cashin (L), 2 percent; and 11 percent undecided. Both candidates up slightly from previous SV poll.
— Insurance Commissioner: John Oxendine (R)(i), 55 percent; Guy Drexinger, 30 percent; and 15 percent undecided. Both candidates up slightly from previous SV poll.
— Labor Commissioner: Michael Thurmond (D)(i), 47 percent; Brent Brown (R), 38 percent; and 15 percent undecided. Both candidates up slightly from previous SV poll.
— State Supreme Court Justice: Carol Hunstein (i), 53 percent; Mike Wiggins, 36 percent; with 11 percent undecided. Hunstein up slightly, Wiggins up six points from previous SV poll.
Insider Advantage, Matt Towery’s outfit, today put the Supreme Court race significantly tighter, with Hunstein at 43 percent, Wiggins at 34 percent, and 23 percent undecided.
These two burglars are sitting in a car, see…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The state Republican party has put up a great ad for Mike Wiggins, the candidate for state Supreme Court justice.
It’s a friendly, very entertaining spot with two burglars in a car, deciding to pull one more job before the election. It might have helped Wiggins more three or four weeks ago.
Strategic Vision, the Republican polling firm, has him down by 17 points in the non-partisan race this morning. Insider Advantage, Matt Towery’s outfit, has the race significantly tighter, with incumbent Justice Carol Hustein leading Wiggins, 43 to 34 percent, with 23 percent undecided.
Meanwhile, the Hustein campaign this morning is bragging that she’s obtained endorsements from 19 newspapers in Georgia. Oh, and her election night party venue. It’s to be at the Atlanta address of Balch & Bingham, where the guy with the biggest office is named Michael Bowers.
