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Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Incumbents cruising early
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Election returns for Georgia’s five contested U.S. House primary elections are just starting to trickle in.
With only a handful of precincts counted, Democratic incumbents John Barrow and Jim Marshall, and GOP incumbent Paul Broun, have jumped to huge leads over their respective opponents: Regina Thomas, Robert Nowak and Barry Fleming. Very early returns show each of three incumbents taking 3 of every 4 votes cast.
There are no results yet for the fifth and 13th congressional districts. In the fifth, incumbent John Lewis is opposed by Markel Hutchins and “Able” Mable Thomas. In the 13th, incumbent David Scott faces Donzella James.
—Ben Smith
Jim Galloway is out of town, but will return soon. If you’ve got news, pop an e-mail to our political team: editor Susan Abramson at sabramson@ajc.com; staffers Aaron Sheinin at asheinin@ajc.com; James Salzer at jsalzer@ajc.com; and Ben Smith at bsmith@ajc.com.
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First box boosts Martin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The first numbers are trickling in in the Democratic U.S. Senate race and Jim Martin holds an early edge.
Of course, Martin got all of 41 votes in White County, the first to report results to the Secretary of State. Still, that’s better than Vernon Jones’ 9 votes, Dale Cardwell’s 24, Rand Knight’s 13 and Josh Lanier’s 4.
We’ve got a long way to go before this means anything. But still, at least now we’re talking about actual votes.
—Aaron Gould Sheinin
Jim Galloway is out of town, but will return soon. If you’ve got news, pop an e-mail to our political team: editor Susan Abramson at sabramson@ajc.com; staffers Aaron Sheinin at asheinin@ajc.com; James Salzer at jsalzer@ajc.com; and Ben Smith at bsmith@ajc.com.
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Knight: ‘We’ve got a shot’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Political newcomer Rand Knight is juggling phone lines this evening as he and four other candidates await the 7 p.m. closing of polls in their bid for the Democratic U.S. Senate race.
News, like turnout, has been light. But the 36-year-old Atlanta businessman is feeling positive.
“We’re feeling good,” he said. “We did this whole thing on less than a quarter million bucks. We did no statewide advertising, no direct mailing, we had the biggest endorsements in Democratic politics, and we got a shot.”
The endorsements from major labor unions, including the state teacher’s association, are, indeed, significant. Whether they’re enough to get Knight into the expected runoff … well, we’ll start finding out in about 40 minutes.
—Aaron Gould Sheinin
Jim Galloway is out of town, but will return soon. If you’ve got news, pop an e-mail to our political team: editor Susan Abramson at sabramson@ajc.com; staffers Aaron Sheinin at asheinin@ajc.com; James Salzer at jsalzer@ajc.com; and Ben Smith at bsmith@ajc.com.
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Things to watch today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With about two-and-a-half hours to go before polls close, there are more uncertainties in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary than otherwise, but one thing appears certain: turnout is low, low, low.
With that in mind, here are a few things to watch and contemplate as we approach 7 p.m. and the closing of the polls.
1. Who does low turnout benefit? Dale Cardwell isn’t sure. The former WSB-TV newsman hopes its him. Atlanta businessman Rand Knight’s campaign reported earlier Tuesday that turnout was mighty slow in DeKalb County, which would seem to bode badly for that county’s CEO, Vernon Jones.
Big turnout in DeKalb would surely benefit Jones, right? Those voters are used to selecting Jones. Keep an eye on those DeKalb boxes, which in many precincts will also include results in the 5th District U.S. House race where incumbent Democrat John Lewis has two challengers.
2. Old guard vs. new Whether they admit it or not, the consensus around the state is that the traditional leaders of the state Democratic Party recruited former lawmaker Jim Martin to run in this Senate primary.
While Martin has raised the most money (much of which came from that old guard or their counterparts in Washington), he has in no way run away with this campaign. If he fails to win today, or makes it to the runoff only to get beat, what does that say about the traditional party infrastructure?
With the Barack Obama campaign bringing thousands of new voters into the Democratic fold, it might signal that the old way is out.
3. What does Jones do in North Georgia? Vernon Jones’ fate in the most conservative region of the state could be a barometer for November. If whites in North Georgia vote for Jones, who is black, is could signal that Obama could expect the same in November.
It’s not a perfect comparison, because those whites could just as easily go vote for Republican John McCain in November, but it would signal a willingness to vote outside their race, which is significant.
4. Do endorsements matter? Rand Knight won the major endorsements from labor, including the state teacher’s union.
If those educators and union members turnout for him, the 36-year-old Knight could stage something of an upset. To come from nowhere a few months ago and turn this race on its ear would be quite something.
5. Does Obama mean anything today? Obama’s campaign sent out a blast e-mail Tuesday to Georgia supporters, reminding them to go vote. Oh, and also to volunteer for his campaign, or donate to his campaign.
No one has aligned themselves more closely in this race than Jones, courtesy of the mail piece he put out that was digitally altered to put Jones and Obama together.
While Jones’ opponents, many in the media and Obama himself have criticized Jones for it, will average voters love it, or hate it? Will they accept Obama’s statement that it was unauthorized, and hold it against Jones, or will they take Jones’ word that it was a celebration of Obama’s candidacy?
With turnout this low, that kind of thing can make a difference.
—Aaron Gould Sheinin
Jim Galloway is out of town, but will return soon. If you’ve got news, pop an e-mail to our political team: editor Susan Abramson at sabramson@ajc.com; staffers Aaron Sheinin at asheinin@ajc.com; James Salzer at jsalzer@ajc.com; and Ben Smith at bsmith@ajc.com.
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Chambliss, Conrad tout energy remedy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While five Democrats campaign for a shot at replacing him, incumbent U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) is in Washington and, at least for today, working across the aisle.
Our Cox Washington colleague Julia Malone sends us this update:
“In an attempt to bring the fueding parties together to wean the nation off foreign oil, Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad on Tuesday said they both want more offshore exploration and more conservation.
“The conservative Chambliss, of Georgia, and the liberal-leaning Conrad of North Dakota spoke on CNN about their “gang of 10” senators, including five from each party, who have been meeting together to find a solution to the energy problem.”
You can read the full item here.
—Aaron Gould Sheinin
Jim Galloway is out of town, but will return soon. If you’ve got news, pop an e-mail to our political team: editor Susan Abramson at sabramson@ajc.com; staffers Aaron Sheinin at asheinin@ajc.com; James Salzer at jsalzer@ajc.com; and Ben Smith at bsmith@ajc.com.
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A three-way race for mayor?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Backers of attorney Jesse Spikes’ bid for Atlanta mayor are pointing to recently released campaign finance reports as proof that there are three legitimate challengers for the job.
Spikes, an attorney with McKenna Long, raised nearly $140,000 in the most recent reporting period and has $144,000 cash on hand. That trails money leader Lisa Borders, the president of Atlanta City Council, who raised $187,000 this period and has $232,000 on hand. State Sen. Kasim Reed has raised $197,000 this quarter and has $188,000 on hand.
But Spikes’ haul shows he has legitimate support in what should be a competitive race leading up to the 2009 election.
—Aaron Gould Sheinin
Jim Galloway is out of town, but will return soon. If you’ve got news, pop an e-mail to our political team: editor Susan Abramson at sabramson@ajc.com; staffers Aaron Sheinin at asheinin@ajc.com; James Salzer at jsalzer@ajc.com; and Ben Smith at bsmith@ajc.com.
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Handel moves to correct Powell errors
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Staffers with Secretary of State Karen Handel’s office say they acted quickly Tuesday morning when they learned that some polling places were posting signs saying Public Service Commission candidate Jim Powell had been disqualified.
Staffers said they heard about the postings 21 minutes after the polls opened and that they immediately sent out a notice to county elections officials directing them to remove any postings saying Powell’s votes wouldn’t be counted. Follow-up calls were made to county elections officials who didn’t open the email directives, Handel staffers said.
However, Democratic officials say the signs were still up a few hours into polling Tuesday.
The confusion came after Handel ruled that Powell didn’t live in the district he was hoping to represent on the PSC. She directed election officials to post a notice saying Powell was disqualified and that votes for the Democratic candidate wouldn’t be counted. However, a Fulton County judge stayed that ruling late Monday.
Democrats are sore because Handel, a Republican, recently disqualified three Democratic candidates, saying they didn’t meet residency requirements.
Democratic Party spokesman Martin Matheny said of the Powell incident, “The whole thing stinks of the worst kind of politics.”
—James Salzer
Jim Galloway is out of town, but will return soon. If you’ve got news, pop an e-mail to our political team: editor Susan Abramson at sabramson@ajc.com; staffers Aaron Sheinin at asheinin@ajc.com; James Salzer at jsalzer@ajc.com; and Ben Smith at bsmith@ajc.com.
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Georgia lottery sets record
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A struggling economy hasn’t kept Georgians from buying lottery tickets.
The Georgia Lottery announced Tuesday that sales for fiscal 2008, which ended June 30, were just under $3.52 billion, a record in the 15-year history of the games.
That’s more than $97.6 million ahead of last year’s record sales.
The Georgia Lottery transferred $858 million of that to the state for education programs, surpassing last year’s record transfer by more than $4.8 million.
Lottery proceeds pay for the HOPE college scholarship program and pre-kindergarten classes for four-year-olds.
The rest of the sales money goes back into prizes and pays for advertising and administrative costs associated with running the lottery.
Gov. Sonny Perdue joined lottery officials at a news conference Tuesday morning announcing the sales and the fact that $10 billion has now been transferred from the lottery to the state for education programs over the past 15 years.
“The Georgia Lottery Corporation has a success formula that works and delivers results for Georgia’s students and families,” said Lottery Corp. CEO Margaret DeFrancisco. “Lottery-funded HOPE Scholarships and pre-K programs have made a fundamental difference in the lives of so many Georgians. The transfer of our $10 billionth dollar to education is a tremendous accomplishment that we can all celebrate.”
—James Salzer
Jim Galloway is out of town, but will return soon. If you’ve got news, pop an e-mail to our political team: editor Susan Abramson at sabramson@ajc.com; staffers Aaron Sheinin at asheinin@ajc.com; James Salzer at jsalzer@ajc.com; and Ben Smith at bsmith@ajc.com.
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Dems say Powell’s status hard to discover
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A Fulton County judge kept Jim Powell’s Public Service Commission candidacy alive Monday, but Democrats say you wouldn’t know it at some polling places.
Democrats say polling places in Bibb, Gwinnett and DeKalb County had signs this morning saying Powell, a Democrat, had been disqualified from the race.
Secretary of State Karen Handel, a Republican, decided Powell didn’t meet residency requirements for the PSC district he was seeking. Handel said Powell received a homestead exemption for a home in Cobb County, which is outside of the far North Georgia district he was hoping to represent. Handel ordered signs be put up stating votes for Powell wouldn’t count.
A judge stayed that ruling Monday, but apparently not all the poll workers got the message.
—James Salzer
Jim Galloway is out of town, but will return soon. If you’ve got news, pop an e-mail to our political team: editor Susan Abramson at sabramson@ajc.com; staffers Aaron Sheinin at asheinin@ajc.com; James Salzer at jsalzer@ajc.com; and Ben Smith at bsmith@ajc.com.
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Send your updates!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s a beautiful primary morning in Atlanta and in about 10 hours we’ll start getting election results.
If you’re out and about, whether it be to vote or to canvass for your candidate, or just riding around, drop us a line at asheinin@ajc.com. Or go into the comments section and let us know.
Thanks, and happy voting.
—Aaron Gould Sheinin
Jim Galloway is out of town, but will return soon. If you’ve got news, pop an e-mail to our political team: editor Susan Abramson at sabramson@ajc.com; staffers Aaron Sheinin at asheinin@ajc.com; James Salzer at jsalzer@ajc.com; and Ben Smith at bsmith@ajc.com.
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Nunn with Obama in Indiana
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia will join Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama in Indiana on Wednesday for a summit on national security.
It is believed to be one of the first, if not the first, joint appearance between Nunn and the man who could make him the vice presidential nominee.
Nunn is believed to be on Obama’s list of potential running mates and his presence in a key swing state on Wednesday will surely bolster that speculation. Nunn is an expert in foreign affairs, an area that could be a weakness for Obama in a general election match-up with Republican John McCain.
The event Wednesday is at Purdue University, and is Obama’s first trip to the state since claiming the nomination. U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana will join Nunn and Obama on the visit and it must be noted that Bayh, too, has been mentioned as a potential vice presidential nominee.
—Aaron Gould Sheinin
Jim Galloway is out of town, but will return soon. If you’ve got news, pop an e-mail to our political team: editor Susan Abramson at sabramson@ajc.com; staffers Aaron Sheinin at asheinin@ajc.com; James Salzer at jsalzer@ajc.com; and Ben Smith at bsmith@ajc.com.
