Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > November > 20
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The problem with backing an independent reformer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
All parties involved today confirmed that U.S. Senate candidate Dale Cardwell and his two Democratic advisors have split.
The parting appears to be amicable. “We continue to think that an independent outsider with a reform message has the best chance of beating [Republican incumbent] Saxby Chambliss in November,” said Emil Runge, who had been acting as Cardwell’s spokesman. “We definitely wish him well.”
Runge and Jeff DiSantis, the former executive director of the state Democratic party, helped Cardwell launch his campaign in June.
Cardwell said the primary issue was money. “Jeff and Emil are very good at what they do. If I could afford them week to week, month to month, I’d do it in a heart-beat,” he said.
But there’s a deeper issue here. Once side would call it principle, the other would more likely label it naivete.
From the start, the former TV journalist has refused to take money from political action committees of any stripe. He’ll take donations from members of teachers unions, but not the union PAC. Cardwell will take money from electricians, but not the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
The decision has left many union leaders, who provide much of the seed money for statewide campaigns, shaking their heads. We’ve seen them do it.
Cardwell’s refusal to take their money condemns his campaign to a future as a footnote in the ’08 campaign, they argue. Cardwell retorts that one can’t call oneself a reform candidate without actually walking away from the current system.
Cardwell has attacked Chambliss specifically as a servant of Big Tobacco and Big Farming. Cardwell launched a low-cost Internet campaign last week, attacking Chambliss on those points.
Special interests are special interests, the former WSB reporter said. “Until I take their PAC money, we’re at a stalemate,” Cardwell said.
The Democratic and Republican parties are like two country clubs who — with their cash — decide who will be on their slates in July, Cardwell said.
And right now the Democratic club “doesn’t like Dale Cardwell,” he admitted.
Mystery solved. Next, we’ll take ‘Presidential Campaigns’ for $200, Alex.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are times in politics in which the cart overtakes the horse, when the response outruns the precipitating event.
Kind of like on “Jeopardy.”
The morning in-box contained an unexplained burst from Tim Echols, who helped U.S. Rep. Paul Broun of Athens win his seat in July.
The message was devoted to Barry Fleming of Augusta, the state House Minority Whip who has decided to challenge Broun in the GOP primary next July. Echols wrote:
If Mr. Fleming becomes a competitive candidate, the financial component of his viability will come at the expense of Republican challengers seeking to oust vulnerable Democrats. Mr. Fleming’s quest against Republican Congressman Paul Broun will divert precious resources from Republican candidates for Congress in Georgia’s 8th and 12th Districts.
If Democrats Jim Marshall (CD 8) and John Barrow (CD 12) are re-elected, they and Nancy Pelosi will surely want to send a “thank you” note to Barry Fleming.
On the state level, Mr. Fleming’s candidacy, supported by Georgia House Republican leaders in Atlanta, will signal that it is open season in GOP primaries against incumbent Republican state legislators. How odd that the Georgia House GOP Whip would set the precedent that may result in the defeat of some of his colleagues.
Abandoning his leadership post in the Georgia House will also cost the Metro Augusta area.
Of course, ambition is not the friend of reason.”
So what was that all about? Turns out that The Politico had a piece Monday looking at the coming campaign for the 10th District:
“The state legislative establishment is totally behind Fleming,” said Matt Towery, CEO of InsiderAdvantage, which polls races in Georgia. “He’s already considered the presumed congressman throughout the state.”
After announcing his campaign in September, Fleming raised $270,000 in two weeks. His early cash haul has already given him a sizable cash-on-hand advantage against Broun, who reported $35,000 in his campaign account at the end of September.
Broun hasn’t yet received any contributions from other Republicans in the GOP delegation, who may remain neutral.
“Money is what everyone judges you on, and he may have missed an opportunity to look like a serious candidate, but I don’t think that [opportunity is] lost,” said one Georgia-based GOP consultant.
Broun said he is just beginning to put together a fundraising team and has been busy organizing and staffing his offices and establishing constituent services.
Blogwatch: ‘Hotel Rwanda’ and the next Holocaust to be denied
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of Atlanta’s more overlooked blogs is written by Deborah Lipstadt, the Emory University professor who made a name for herself by taking on Holocaust deniers such as David Irving.
She’s branched into other areas as well. Lipstadt has had much to say, for instance, about both Jimmy Carter and Ann Coulter.
Lipstadt has this entry up now, advancing a Nov. 27 seminar at Emory to tackle those who deny the genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda.
“The mantra of these deniers is: Tutsis have been killing Hutus for years. This was an example of the Hutus striking back,” she writes.
“What will surprise most readers of this blog — it certainly surprised me — is that one of the people who has been most active in spreading this form of denial is Paul Rusesabagina.
“If his name does not ring a bell, think Hotel Rwanda. He is the central character. He is speaking on college campuses, including Emory[,] and serious scholars in many fields are deeply worried.”
Signs of progress for Huckabee in the South: Nature Boy sides with him, and Nathan Deal says he might
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You have to hand it to Mike Huckabee, the dark horse Republican in the presidential field. He’s got a good ear for the blue-collar vote.
While Rudy Giuliani wandered around NASCAR pits, Huckabee collared Chuck Norris, and cut an entertaining 30-second spot with the star of “Walker: Texas Ranger” and countless B-grade shoot-‘em-ups.
On Saturday, Huckabee got himself tickets to the Clemson-South Carolina game in Columbia, S.C. He’ll be escorted to a tailgate party by 16-time World Wrestling Heavyweight champion, Ric “the Nature Boy” Flair.
Nathan Deal, the congressman from North Georgia, may be among those Huckabee is impressing.
Yesterday’s Congressional Quarterly had a piece bemoaning the alleged failure of Fred Thompson to leave other Republican candidates for the White House in the dust.
It includes these paragraphs:
The late entry appears to have contributed to the loss of one possible endorsement in the House.
Rep. Nathan Deal , R-Ga., was once on the brink of declaring for Thompson but ultimately chose to keep his powder dry.
Deal said that, like others, Thompson waiting so long to get into the race disconcerted him.
“He really hasn’t caught fire,” said Deal, who has not committed to a candidate. Deal did not rule out the possibility of endorsing Thompson, or at least voting for him, later on.
But he also said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee , who is outpolling Thompson in Iowa, might get his help. Huckabee and Thompson are in direct competition for social conservatives.
A Huckabee endorsement by Deal would leave the Georgia’s GOP delegation all over the map. Phil Gingrey of Marietta and Tom Price of Roswell are backing Mitt Romney. Lynn Westmoreland of Sharpsburg has gotten behind Thompson.
