Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > October > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMarshall opponents forming long line
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rep. Jim Marshall, a Macon Democrat and one of the most vulnerable incumbent congressmen in the country, has for years successfully warded off all Republican challengers in a district that is nearly half Democrat, half Republican.
But Marshall’s problems continue to build for the 2008 contest as challengers from his own party begin lining up against him. Check his site here.
Macon Mayor Jack Ellis announced last week that he was forming an exploratory committee to determine his chances against Marshall. “We need a real Democrat to represent this district in office,” Ellis said.
Now Robert Nowak, a schoolteacher and Democrat from Macon, has joined the primary race against Marshall. It’s a first-time run for Nowak, 58, who, among other things, cited Marshall’s vote against additional funding for Georgia’s PeachCare as a reason to replace him.
Marshall was the only Georgia Democrat to vote against the PeachCare funding and has been heavily criticized in Georgia for it. Marshall echoed Republican arguments against the bill, saying that, on a national basis, programs like PeachCare were improperly using money intended to help poor children to instead insure adults and kids from middle-class homes. PeachCare does neither.
Should Marshall survive the primary - and right now he’s got the power of incumbency, support from the national party and a conservative track record largely in line with the district - he’ll still face Republican Richard Goddard in next year’s general election.
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
Comments
By Disgusted
October 9, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
With “Democrats” like Marshall, why bother to replace him with a Republican? He is a Republican, one who uses the other label merely to garner the black vote in his district.
By Robert
October 9, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
Right… because it’s a whole lot easier for him to win as a Democrat in a heavily Republican district.
By melissa
October 9, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
Robert who?
He doesn’t have a snowball’s chance against Marshall. We need a woman to run.
Ellis will get the African American vote. Marshall will continue to get the R-lite vote.
To beat Marshall in the D primary you need a woman. Women make up 54% of the voting population in that district.
And I hear there is a woman with some SERIOUS political chops who is so angry about Marshall’s vote on SCHIP that she’s finally willing to be talked in to running - something people in Georgia have been pushing her to do for a long time.
Marshall needs to watch his back. His own party seems to finally have his number. They may have put up with his shenanigans in the past, but no Democrat is going to let you get away with voting against health care for children. I mean, really! Who votes against health care for children?
If this woman runs I’d write the first check to her campaign!
By cherokee dem
October 9, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this
he votes with the rest of the Democratic Party in Congress over 80% of the time. He is a great Democrat and not a Republican. He would have a easier time winning as a Republican in that district so the fact he runs as a Democrat illustrates how committed he is to the party
By Rob
October 9, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure how much of a secret this woman is. The phone lines among political circles in Macon have been burning up for a week. I won’t out her, although I got a call from folks feeling out support for her. But I think Marshall’s in serious trouble if she gets in the race.
By MarshallHater
October 9, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
I hear you on Marshall voting with the D’s 80% of the time. But voting against healthcare for kids is a deal breaker.
You can’t be a D and vote against healthcare for kids. It’s a dyed in the wool value. You either have it or you don’t.
Marshall doesn’t have it. He’s dead to me. Bring on the mystery woman candidate, cuz I ain’t voting for Ellis or Robert Who?
By Melissa
October 9, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
Well, I just got a phone call saying she was officially thinking about it - and health care for children would be the center of her campaign.
If folks know her, they should call her and offer their support. I think she’s in Atlanta tonight for the EMILY’s List training. Looks like a decision is close.
By GwinnettDem
October 9, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this
There are only a few women in Macon with the political credentials to take on Marshall in a primary. I love Lauren Benedict, but she just got elected to Macon City Council. All the City Council folks just got reelected and if they had wanted to take on Marshall they would have done it before they spent the money to get reelected. So that leaves someone who didn’t run but is qualified for Congress.
Amy Morton comes to mind - and is AWESOME!
Anyone want to confirm or deny?
By robertson
October 9, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
I hope she does run. bring the egotistical man home from Washington… he is a career politician that has lost his way.
By PoliticalConsultant
October 9, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this
At the risk of Amy Morton never talking to me again, I’ll confirm it.
I’ve been trying to get Amy to run for office for forever. She’s the best untested democratic female candidate I’ve seen in a LOOOONG time.
Amy, you need to run. Georgia needs you. I know, I know - you have a million obligations. But people would line up to give you the money they’ve been giving to Jim Marshall. I love(d) Jim Marshall. I gave him money. Sure, he’s a jerk. But he was OUR jerk, right? Not anymore.
Now we want Amy Morton.
By Tony Williams
October 9, 2007 6:03 PM | Link to this
I have also heard that Terry Tripp may be considering jumping in against Marshall. Even Rick Hutto has been courted. Of course Robert Brown would be best, but he has been ill.
I guess I wonder if more Republicans might not jump in if Marshall continues to look week.
Some speculate that Marshall may call it quits, or jump into the Senate race to avoid this fight.
Whatever happens, his base is very unsure at this time. Perhaps he could go back to teaching law once again.
By LAS
October 9, 2007 6:26 PM | Link to this
Marshall has turned his back on Peachcare and the poor children of Georgia. I for one will turn my back on him next November. I welcome a real choice in the Dem primary.
By Dennis the Menace
October 9, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this
If Congress doesn’t pass legislation granting me $1 million annual salary plus a luxury automobile, then I’ll hold my breath.
I’m calling the legislation CM-DIP (CHILDREN-Million for Dennis Is Plenty).
Please Congress, do it “for the children.” If you don’t pass the law, you have lost your way….
By bst
October 9, 2007 8:25 PM | Link to this
I think Amy Morton would make an INCREDIBLE candidate for congress. She has been working hard to get dems elected across the state for years. She is also brilliant. Look out if she gets in this race.
By Victor Jones
October 10, 2007 8:10 AM | Link to this
georgia improper is temporarily giving up politics for religion, we’ve seen too much.
By Connie
October 10, 2007 8:15 AM | Link to this
All of you are living in la-la land. If Marshall loses the primary, Goddard walks away with the election. And Marshall will be making lots more money with much less hassle. And he is not against children’s health care. He is just concerned about expanding care using smoke and mirrors funding sources. The cigarette tax will not cover the expenses of this bill. They make it look like it will by having the program go out of existence in a few years, using the same accounting techniques used by the Repulicans with the tax cuts that were supposed to end in 2010. The Republican party has broken the bank. We cannot afford large expansions of existing programs without solid funding. If the democratic leadership comes forward with a real funding source or using real figures to estimate the cost, he will vote in favor.
By James
October 10, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
Amy Morton is in bad need of a makeover if she chooses to run.
By brad
October 10, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this
Peachcare is going nowhere and it will continue to be funded. The same day that Peachcare was supposedly “eliminitaed,” a continuing resolution was passed to continue to fund the program and when the appropriation process is over the program will be fully funded. The vote was against the expansion of the program in a way that would ultimately allow folks in New Jersey making 70,000 to qualify, people in New york making 80,000 to qualify, etc… This is wrong and steers from the intent of the program.
By brad
October 10, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this
Peachcare is going nowhere and it will continue to be funded. The same day that Peachcare was supposedly “eliminitaed,” a continuing resolution was passed to continue to fund the program and when the appropriation process is over the program will be fully funded. The vote was against the expansion of the program in a way that would ultimately allow folks in New Jersey making 70,000 to qualify, people in New york making 80,000 to qualify, etc… This is wrong and steers from the intent of the program.
By robertson
October 10, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this
Brad- good to see Marshall’s staff is hard at work defending him on blogs.
By Victor Jones
October 10, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this
brad, when Jim & Bob say, “Please Wait,” that means please wait.
By Connie
October 10, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this
I hope Amy does not run, but I think the comment about her is out of line. Not all women can be anorexic dyed blonde barbies like Anne Coulter and the women on the Fox news network. And Robertson, I hope you realize that half of the posts here are from Goddard supporters laughing about how easily manipulated the uninformed can be.
By clueless AJC
October 10, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this
If a Robert Nowak, a progressive candidate who is a teacher can’t win in this district then neither can a pro-choice woman like Amy Morton. Amy didn’t have the guns to run a in-house Democratic party seat.