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DEL.ICIO.USJim Marshall and the ‘08 race: No rest for the weary. Perhaps.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’re told that state Sen. Ross Tolleson of Perry recently flew up to Washington to speak with members of the NRCC about challenging U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall, the Democrat from Macon, in ‘08.
We called U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, who has a hand in the Republican candidate selection process. A spokesman confirmed that Tolleson met with Westmoreland, and that an ‘08 race was the topic.
Several games of chicken may be at work here.
Marshall, who inhabits a 60 percent Republican district and won by a whisker in ‘06, is being lobbied by the Senate Democratic operation to challenge U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a Republican.
The House Democratic operation would prefer for Marshall to stay — it’s likely that Democrats would lose the seat if Marshall leaves it to take on Chambliss.
It’s in Marshall’s interest to keep both Democratic entities guessing as long as possible. You get more money out of them that way. (Yes, we’re crass to suggest such a thing, but whattya gonna do?)
Tolleson took Sonny Perdue’s seat in the state Senate. He’s earned a good reputation in Atlanta, but does lack the military gravitas that has made Marshall so survivable in the 8th District. Nationally, Republicans are in disarray. And with his party in power in Congress, Marshall will not lack for funds.
So would Tolleson be in this thing to challenge Marshall — a move likely to draw a multi-million dollar response from national Democrats? Or would his aim be to encourage Marshall to jump into the Senate race, and have the pole position in the race for an open seat?
You tell us. We don’t know.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Oliver
March 16, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this
I see Jim Staying Put! The Demos exposed too many State Offices in the 06 election and we are not going to make that mistake again. We have people well Qualified to take on Saxby. Is he running? I haven’t seen any announcment that he is running for re-election anyway.
We are looking to turn this state BLUE in 08 for the White House and that will help any candidate running for the Senate. Againg I say don’t try and temp Jim Marshall, OK?
By Shar
March 16, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this
Jim Marshall is a smart, hardworking, committed Representative and the people of the Eighth are lucky to have him. Despite the tight margin in last year’s election, he did buck the tidal wave of Republican victories, and he is a very attractive candidate. If he does decide to try for statewide office, I’ll be glad to get a chance to vote for him. Good guy.
By cnote
March 16, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this
“he did buck the tidal wave of Republican victories”
Are you kidding? Not a single Democrat incumbent lost for Congressional and Statewide elections in Georgia and the GOP got slaughtered nationwide.
By Mark
March 16, 2007 8:31 PM | Link to this
To think that we are in danger of turning this state Blue in 08 is absolutely crazy… Especially if the Dems nominate either Hillary or Obama.
By charlescorley
March 17, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
J.B. Stoner wrote the script for this novel. Remember the republicans use to be the democrats.The ghost of Strom. what characters. Sonny boy. Thomas J. Zig-Zag. 60% republican. Gooooooood luck.
By Rick in Lawrenceville
March 18, 2007 7:33 AM | Link to this
I hope Chambliss gets voted out of office. He’s the one that complained to ICE years ago about the ICE action against illegal immigrants picking agricultural products. Now we are saddled with this illegal immigrant problem and Chambliss has his dirty hands right in the middle of it all.
By TROLL
March 18, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this
I live in Jim Marshall’s Congressional District and also Ross Tolleson’State Senate District. I for one believe that Jim is very effective in today’s Congress and will not gamble that position to try and unseat Saxby. Ross is very effective in Atlanta and would be ill-advised to tackle Jim. I don’t think he can beat him.
By drjay
March 19, 2007 8:14 AM | Link to this
“he did buck the tidal wave of Republican victories”
“Are you kidding? Not a single Democrat incumbent lost for Congressional and Statewide elections in Georgia and the GOP got slaughtered nationwide.”
not to nitpick but in ga at least the gop did pick up the open statewide seats, and actually incumbent democrat psc member david burgess did lose to a gop in his race. i think the original post was refering the gop success ltd. to here in ga as it is remaining fairly reliable gop stronghold for the time being…
By Nicholas
March 19, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this
Ross Tolleson, that’s a joke right? I assumed since Mac Collins still hasn’t conceded the election that he was running again. It always funny to see the Republicans attempt to come up with someone who can beat Jim every two years and he wins over and over again. I don’t think he should get in the Senate race, I think he ought to stay in the House and run for Governor in 2010. Mr. Marshall is truly one of Georgia’s finest public servants and it is just so fun to watch him whip Republicans every two years.
By keith
March 19, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
If Jim Marshall decides to challenge saxby chambliss in ‘08 I think there are three democrats that could run in that district & keep the seat in dems hands if they choose to run, robert brown of macon, former house leader larry walker of perry, & possibly dubose porter of dublin.
By Boondock
March 19, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Walker is a conservative Democrat of the Zell Miller/Sam Nunn variety. He would make an excellent replacement for Marshall, or, for that matter, Sonny Perdue.
By Guy Pinestra
March 19, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this
I agree with Rick, Saxby Shameless needs to go, and I’d vote for a Democrat to see him gone. Shameless is nothing more than a shill for agri-business and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He doesn’t give a flip about his constituents, he only cares for his contributors.
From Open Secrets…
Saxby Chambliss is a top Senate recipient from the following industries for the 2005-2006 election cycle:
Crop Production (#1) Poultry & Eggs (#2) Sugar cane & sugar beets (#3)With contributors like these it’s no wonder he wants to keep the new slave trade going strong.
By Nicholas
March 19, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this
Keith the only one who could win woule be Porter, but would he run. There is no way in the world Robert Brown gets elected to Congress from the 8th.
By tribalecho
March 19, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this
Boondock, please! I’ve met Sam Nunn and he’s no Zell Miller.
Nunn/Richardson ‘08
Nunn/Obama “08
Nunn/Anyone he chooses ‘08
Zell Miller, muttering in the family-room in ‘08