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DEL.ICIO.USWhen learning stick shift, finding first gear is always the hardest
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The good news, said state Democratic chairman Jane Kidd, is that May 17 has been picked as the day for the party’s annual fund-raiser, the Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner.
Presidential candidate John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina, has confirmed his appearance. Other invitations are pending, Kidd said.
More good news: “We made the payroll this week,” she said.
The bad news: “But we can’t do it again.”
Kidd made her remarks this morning at a meeting of Georgia’s WIN List, a political action committee for Democratic women.
Afterwards, Kidd said much of her first month in the leadership position has been spent going to donors throughout the state, trying to patch up the once-mighty party’s finances. “I’m think I can almost get us a couple weeks more on what we came up with in Macon yesterday,” she said.
“Jefferson-Jackson has always been the event that brings in the budget,” Kidd said. Usually it’s held in February or March.
The party requires between $700,000 and $750,000 to keep its staff of 10 in rent money. That includes an executive director, who hasn’t been hired yet.
On another front, Kidd said the party intended to field a candidate for the 10th District congressional race in north Georgia. But that it would only be one candidate.
“It’s an opportunity to show who we are. It’s a different seat,” she said. “We’re going to have to behave like adults. It’s important for Democrats to have one qualified candidate. For the first time, we’re going to have to say no,” she said.
Republicans have already fielded two white, male conservative candidates. “We know what they look like,” Kidd said. “We’re looking for something different.”
What will the Democratic party be able to offer that candidate? “We’re not going to be able to provide money for the candidate. What we are going to provide is grass roots organization,” Kidd said.
Comments
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By Dan Matthews
February 22, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this
Notice how she did not mention Terry Holley, another white male. Who else could run? Jeannette Jameson?
By John D
February 22, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this
Georgia is better with a two-party system, as Republicans told us for 130 years. So let’s give the new chair of the Democratic Party a chance. If you are an independent a $25 or $50 contribution could not hurt. It’s a pizza and a movie, for Pete’s sake. What a deal to have two points of view under the Gold Dome, or on the Hill.
By EGYD
February 22, 2007 11:52 PM | Link to this
A couple of observations, neither of them encouraging, if you’re a Georgia Democrat (like me).
1) What sort of leader of a political organization (or any other group that needs donations) pleads poverty? Donors generally don’t want to give to groups that say they can’t pay the bills. Not sure if “we can’t make the next payroll” is an effective fundraising strategy.
2) How is Kidd going to limit the number of Democratic candidates in the 10th District to one? Is she going to order Karen Handel to only put one Democrat on the ballot, even if more than one signs up to run? I don’t think she could do that if she wanted to. Making promises you can’t keep - also not the sign of political smarts.
Yikes.
By RJ
February 23, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this
EGYD, Some keen observations on your part. However, Kidd’s openess has a counterbalancing effect on the dire situation and as such, could prove to be effective as a fund raising tool. Without having to mention it, the arrogance, indifference, and heavy handed governance of the majority party will also instigate contributions.
As a newcomer to the job, Kidd is making some smart moves.