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DEL.ICIO.USShowing the love for Jim Marshall
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Shailendra family is very well known in Democratic fund-raising circles, but the invitation to the luncheon they’re sponsoring for U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall Monday makes it clear no checks will be requested.
Instead, according to an e-mail that went out to potential attendees, this gathering is just a way to meet the Democrat from Macon and “let him know dthat many in this city and state would love to see him set his sights a bit higher.”
In other words, as the note makes clear, the purpose of the luncheon is to encourage Marshall to consider the 2008 U.S. Senate race against Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss.
Not that anybody’s saying anything disparaging about the only Democrat to make any public expression of interest in the Senate race, DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones. But, as one of the organizers put it to us, “We’re just trying to get enough tree-shakers in the room to say (to Marshall), ‘If you want to run, we’re with you.’”
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By keith
May 4, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
I hope Marshall do run against Chambliss, but unless he knows a democrat in the 8th district can keep that seat in the democratic hands I don’t see him leaving that seat to make a run at Chambliss. But I think there are three possible successors to Marshall if he decides to run for the senate: State Senator Robert Brown (D) Macon, Former house majority leader Larry Walker (D) Perry, & Attorney Chuck Byrd (D) Macon. And two possible darkhorse candidates: Former house speaker Terry Coleman (D) Eastman & house minority leader Dubose Porter (D) Dublin.
By GodHatesTrash
May 5, 2007 5:47 AM | Link to this
Chambliss is trash. That’s why rednecks vote for him.
By Trackboy1
May 5, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
Coleman and Porter??? They have done nothing significant while in office, except for enabling the canyon divide between rural and metro Dem’s. Mass transit stinking and GDOT a w******* for road building interests? These guys were a big part of the problem. GA Power and ATL Gas Light running roughshod over consumers and the PSC? It’s on them. Weak ethics laws for elected officials in GA? They allowed it on their watch (prime example: Charles Walker).
Coleman and Porter are yesterday’s news, and need to stay that way.
By JR Lentini
May 5, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe there would be so many Democrats who don’t get that if not for Jim Marshall we’d be down another seat in the Congressional delegation. It’s not like he’s got John Barrow’s district, that another Democrat would have a chance in were the incumbent to leave. If Marshall isn’t running for Congress, the Democrats will be essentially surrendering his seat to the republicans.
There might be a reason for surrendering the seat (it’s not exactly cheap to keep a Democratic Representative in office there, what with having to fight off a strong challenge backed by the NRCC every cycle, and that money would certainly go a long way towards regaining legislative control if spent on downticket races), but I don’t think giving up now is a plan for success in the future in a district where, unlike most others in Georgia, the Democrats are holding up remarkably well.
If Georgia is ever going to swing back Blue within the next ten years, then the Democrats need to hold on to swing seats and rural voters.
By Joc
May 5, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this
Trackboy1, Your comments about Coleman and Porter are broad strokes. How did they “enable the canyon divide between rural and metro Democrats?” How are they responsible for advancing the interests of road builders. For your information Charles Walker was convicted of fraud, not political corruption. By the way, his conviction will be reversed because the Judge illegally seated four members of his jury.
Lentini, all Democrats have to do is sit back and let the Republicans implement their agenda. When the pain gets severe south Georgia voters will realize they have been taken.
By Trackboy1
May 6, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this
Brilliant strategy Joc. Wait until things go “hell in a handbasket”, and then stand up??? That’s the type of thinking that has made GA Dem’s the weak, ineffective party they are and will be for years to come unless they drastically change everything they do. And defending a slimeball like Chaz Walker? Guy brazenly used his elected office to steal from Grady, and got what he deserved.
By Joc
May 6, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
Trackboy1, You are heavy on opinions and light on facts. Can you factually answer the questions posed in my previous post? With respect to Walker, my comment is based upon the fact based substance of his appeal. It is interesting to say the least that you would receive it as a defense of Walker.
Opinions come easy…the accumulation of facts require work.
By neil
May 7, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
If Jim do decide to challenge Chambliss I think that the national dems should go talk to State Senator Robert Brown (D) Macon, or maybe Sam Nunn’s daughter Michelle Nunn to run for Marshall’s seat & keep it in Democratic control.