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DEL.ICIO.USThe Georgia AFL-CIO endorses Rand Knight in Democratic race for U.S. Senate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If it isn’t there already, the Democratic race for U.S. Senate is about to be thrown into a cocked hat.
Richard Ray, president of the Georgia AFL-CIO, says his labor organization will endorse Rand Knight, a little-known ecologist from Atlanta, in the primary contest.
The AFL-CIO, the most influential labor group in the state, is to make the announcement today.
“I’m sure it will be a surprise to a lot of people that the young man has come out of nowhere,” Ray said this morning. “Rand is a very passionate young man, very much in tune with the issues that the labor unions have on their agenda, such as health care for everyone.”
Ray also said that his membership was looking for something different. Knight, 36, has little money — as of March 30, he had $17,971 in cash on hand, and a debt that topped $45,000. This is his first political contest. But Ray said union members were impressed by Knight’s grass-roots efforts to meet people throughout the state.
Several Democratic candidates, including Atlanta attorney Jim Martin and former TV journalist Dale Cardwell competed for the endorsement. The AFL-CIO provides only a limited amount of campaign funding, but its networking system has served as the skeleton for many statewide races.
The endorsement of Knight is a blow to the Martin campaign, which has now raised the most money in the Democratic race, and good news to DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones.
Martin, 62, has the longest pedigree of any Democrat in the race — having served as a state lawmaker and commissioner of the state Department of Human Resources under both Govs. Roy Barnes and Sonny Perdue. He ran an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor in 2006.
Martin entered the race only in March, at the urging of Democratic activists here and in Washington — who are worried about the impact the nomination of Jones might have on the rest of the ticket.
Union workers and African-Americans are two of the most important constituencies in a Democratic primary. Strategists were already worried about the Martin campaign’s ability to attract the endorsements of African-American political leaders in the state.
Fallout from the Obama-Clinton fight at the national level has caused many black Democratic leaders to stay on the sideline in the U.S. Senate contest.
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Comments
By JK
May 30, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
Wooo-HOOOOO! I told you this young man was worth another look. Haven’t we had enough of politics as usual around here? This fresh face is more than a nice smile. Meet him, and you’ll be convinced he has a real love for Georgia, its beauty, resources, people, and potential. Listen to his ideas before discounting his youthfulness. One also has to appreciate the GUTS he’s displayed by circumventing years of party pandering to apply for the job he truly wants, and wants to do well. Go Rand!!
By RJ
May 30, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
“Fallout from the Obama-Clinton fight at the national level has caused many black Democratic leaders to stay on the sideline in the U.S. Senate contest.” Jim Galloway, where did you get this insight from? There is absolutely no poll results suggesting this to be the case.
Each candidate has to make his own pitch to individual legislators. Vernon Jones does not have a lock on the Black vote. Privately, he is perceived as a spoiler. He simply cannot reconcile admittedly having voted for Bush twice. Those actions, coupled with his public pronouncement of them, raise serious questions about his judgement… not to mention a whole lot of other questions about him.
Because of their tax exempt status, neither the Legislative Black Caucus nor the Georgia Association of Elected officials can endorse candidates. The same holds true for the NAACP and SCLC. So, there is no Black group of real standing that can endorse.
By Congrats!
May 30, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
Congrats! Rand is a great guy and this labor union endorsement should go a long way. I know he is also working in the Gay & Lesbian community very hard. He has great respect for the gay, lesbian, bi and transgender community. As a Democrat, I applaud him for that and appreciate his willingness to stand up for them in a state that is often so hateful!
By Bitter EX democrackkk
May 30, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Labor unions are obsolete and are ANTI American. SHAME on ANY politician that crows about union endorsements.
STRIVE to be SMARTER than a democrackkk, the ORIGINAL PARTY OF SLAVERY!
By lucylou
May 30, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
I disagree with slavery— It was a very sad time in America’s history. However, refusing to support a woman’s right to choose, being last in education, and having the worse transportation issues in the US is a whole new type of slavery. Abortion - Let me preface my remarks by frist saying I personally do not believe in abortion but I do believe a woman is smart enough, capable enough, and responsible enough to make decisions that directly affect her body. With that said, every year since 2003 Georgia republicans have tried to restrict a woman from choosing what is right for her and her body. A woman who chooses to have or not have an abortion is her right and her’s alone. Her choice will be between her, God and her family. It is no one else’s business. It should not be legislated, it is a conscience choice for that person not for a legislative body to dictate. Education: There was a comprehensive education plan in place when the Republicans took over in 2003 that would have slowly but surely raised Georgia from 48th at that time to a higher ranking- the republicans systematically dismantled that plan until Georgia fell to dead last in the nation. Our children and grand children will have a difficult time competing in the world job market due to a poor education. And, last but not least - Transportation: Georgia is dead last in transportation too. I mean we have the worse transportation in the US. We may not be at the top of the spectrum but we are certainly at the bottom of it - that’s one way to reach the end. For the past 5 years the republicans have done nothing but talk the problem to death without results— all the while commute times are increasing. I mean it was bad before they took over but it is now positively stagnate. When the Dems were in charge at the Georgia Capitol they respected (and still do) the rights of women and blacks, they knew education had to be improved and worked to fix the problem, and, tried to improve the flow of transportation. I have never felt more disrespected, seen all hope of education to ever improve, and traffic become like a death sentence in my entire life.
Everyone should forgive - I guess we should forgive too.
By SharonH
May 30, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this
Whatever. The guy is very photogenic but he doesn’t have a snowball’s chance. For that matter, no Democrat does but I will vote for Jim Martin anyway. I believe he is the best choice to at least give Bad Knee Saxby a run for his money.
By Tom Ga Hunter
May 30, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
None of the Democrats will beat Saxby.. Saxby’s greed will beat Saxby.
By betty boop
May 30, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
Interesting comments — all of you. I’ve met Rand on several occassions and have been delighted to introduce him to others. Frankly, he could surprise you! This young, good looking ecologist, businessman, familyman has a lot to offer. I am proud of labor for stepping up for him.
I like ole Jim too — he’s a good man but is not perceived as a winner around town — and the perception often becomes the reality.
Poor old Vernon! He voted for Bush, not once but twice. You lie down with dogs you get up with fleas. Spoiler? No, I don’t think so. He is already spoiled and stinks to high heaven. The only place he has really campaigned with any shadow of acceptance is down in South Fulton and that don’t win the race.
Dale. Bless his heart. Sitting around atop a pole is no way to prove you are a reliable, worth candidate. Better shinny on back up that pole so you get a clearer view of the race. Shame on you, you old fair taxer.
Betty Boop says Sax-Be-Shameless has numbered his days by aligning himself with a failed president and a war machine that recent polls say 86 percent of American’s do not want. Again, he must be scratching fleas all the time.
Betty has a big red raspberry for the anti-unionist. Bet he has never realized that the the 40 hour week, health insurance, job safety and job security are a product of the collective bargaining process. Pooh on you.
Betty Boop
By Working Georgia
May 30, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
Rand is going to shock the naysayers.His message will connect with Georgians from all walks of life.
By Matt Combest
May 30, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
Congrats Rand - he has worked harder than any Democratic Candidate in this race, he’s been traveling around the state none stop for over a year now and deserves a bump in the polls. Martin is good, but Rand has something that Martin doesn’t, Passion for this race.
By Will Jones
May 30, 2008 11:51 PM | Link to this
The AFL-CIO was completely run by Organized Crime Mob bosses on each international board. Has it changed in the last few years?
All the people I know named “Knight” are Roman Catholic and “Rand” doesn’t say. Anyone know?
Around Chicago all the Mob-run union halls are in Roman Catholic church basements. Mafia/Papacy/Corporatism/Plutocrats…fascism.
Not so in Georgia.
Obama/Webb + Dale Cardwell on their coattails to boot Bush’s “good buddy” Shameless.
www.theamericanfundament.blogspot.com
By Bitter EX democrackkk
June 1, 2008 7:23 AM | Link to this
Hey Betty Boop…my daddy was a United Transportation Union member by force, and he always told me to get a good education, which I did, and to never believe that unions were good for America! And HE was a democrackkk!
By GodHatesTrash
June 2, 2008 6:37 AM | Link to this
Bitter, you silly redneck. Your daddy drove a bus not because the union made him, but because he was too dumb to do anything else. And the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, trash.
By mah
June 5, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
Is Rand Knight the son of former AFL-CIO leader Tasso Knight? If so, I wonder how hard his endorsement interview must have been.
Interesting if there are family ties…
By ella
June 6, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
No. If you look on the bio on Rand’s website it clearly states that Rand is the Son of Randy Knight and Judy Mozen…
http://www.knightforsenate.com/meetRand.asp