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DEL.ICIO.USOn whether the DSCC should be playing in the Georgia race for U.S. Senate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An internal debate seems to be brewing within upper Democratic circles over whether a deeper investment in the U.S. Senate race in Georgia would be worth the gamble.
Today, in an opinion piece for The Hill, a key Democratic opinion-shaper makes the argument for Democrat Jim Martin’s challenge to Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss.
Markos Moulitsas — founder and publisher of the liberal blog, Daily Kos — details a poll of the race he ordered up. And because Moulitsas already has his own publishing venue, you have to deduce that, by writing for a D.C. newspaper, he’s specifically directing his comments to those Democrats living inside the Beltway.
Moulitsas writes:
Martin’s support comes heavily from African-Americans, according to SurveyUSA; he’s winning them 84-7 percent, as opposed to whites, among whom he loses to the Republican incumbent 63-27. His path to victory requires either boosting black turnout to 30 percent (the poll assumes 25 percent, the 2004 number), increasing white support to 30 percent, or a combination of both. The SurveyUSA poll suggests Martin is having some luck with whites — his support increased from 18 percent in the mid-September poll to 27 percent in last week’s effort.
Others have weighed in as well.
FiveThirtyEight.com, an aggregate polling site, says today that Georgia is a slightly paler shade of red when it comes to the U.S. Senate race:
The most substantial movement this week is in Georgia, where several polls now show a tight race between Saxby Chambliss and Jim Martin. Martin remains relatively underfunded, but his economic populist message is a good fit for his state, his advertising has been sharp, and Chambliss did not do himself any favors by voting for the bailout. Still, Chambliss remains narrowly ahead.
Conveniently, the Kos article appears the day after U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, held a session with reporters to discuss Senate races across the map.
This from MSNBC’s “First Read”:
…. Schumer and the Democrats have added other previous-cycle crimson states to their target list: Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s seat in Kentucky. He went so far as to call Georgia and Kentucky “even-steven races.” The DSCC put up their first ad in Kentucky today.
But the point is, Democrats have decided to throw TV money at Kentucky and — so far — not at Georgia. (Also, keep in mind that payback may be another motive in the McConnell race. Republicans targeted — and defeated — Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle in 2004.)
Below is the anti-McConnell ad in question. When you see something like it with, Chambliss’ face, you’ll know the DSCC has decided that the race in Georgia is worth the coin.
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Comments
By Yep
October 9, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this
Chambliss has put this race in play by completely ignoring his constituents and voting for amnesty for illegals and the socialist bailout of the financial institutions!! What an Idiot!!!
By Will Jones
October 9, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
The bailout is pure fascism…shoring up the monied false-elite so cooperative with Bush/Cheney’s committing 9/11 right in their neighborhood. Think the Wall Streeters haven’t been able to google “mineta testimony” on youtube, or with all those billions bright enough to read “The New Pearl Harbor”? They know what’s going on and the bi-partisan “neo-con” fascist false-elite is taking care of its own with our money.
Martin will win at a walk on Obama’s coattails. Though it would be nice for the DSCC to lavish money on Georgia’s media outlets, Martin and Obama will be winning in the greatest of the United States regardless.
By Gary
October 9, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
I believe the state is in play, but not by much. The Rasmussen poll is one of the most trustworthy and accurate when it comes to GA politics and it has Chambliss up and at 50% which is where an incumbent would like to be. Please take solice in the polls that show Martin tied, close, or ahead. Most of those polls are internal or provided by left leaning groups (Daily Kos). Yes I know InsiderAdvantage has the race close as well, but remember they said that Mark Taylor was tied or beating Sonny Perdue and that Ralph Reed was a lock for Lt Gov. We saw how those two ended. Anyway the way I see it Chambliss, after his sellout votes this year on the bailout bill, farm bill, and his support for the Democratic lead gang of 10 on oil drilling, should be behind by about 8 points to Martin. But then again Martin doesn’t have much to offer and Buckley claims to be a conservative, but supports a tax system that is socialist so he carries no credibility at all. Think I will be sitting this one out.
By Will Jones
October 9, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
“Martin doesn’t have much to offer”??? He offered his life for us and the Constitution during Vietnam when Chambliss and his closet-queen “good buddies” in the White House had “other priorities:” they were already confirmed cowards and false patriots then, and are to this day.
Georgia has the best men and women in America of the stock closest to that which built Our Nation. On Election Day we will turn out the draft-dodging cowards and hypocrites who have visited so much evil on Our Land, and work to return to virtue and peace in this Most Blessed Country.
By Sam
October 9, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
I hate seeing a Democrat win, but I can’t vote to re-elect Chambliss. His vote for the bailout showed me that he’s not a true Republican. Democrats are going to control the Senate anyway… might as well have someone who is on the side in power and who knows that the bailout was a mistake. He may end up helping our state while Chambliss would do nothing.
By Pompano
October 9, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
Sam - I’m starting to lean the same way. I think Washington incumbents are becoming the greatest threat to our Society. We elect someone like Chambliss and then watch him march off to Washington to have his strings yanked like a puppet by the national party.
By Ga Values
October 9, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this
Where Saxby Chambliss gets his money::
Agri Business—-$1,368,000 Banks, Insurance, Real Estate—-$1,332,000 Lawyers & Individual Lobbyist——$641,000 Misc Business —-$679,000 Other ——$606,000..
The Agi Business got a gift of $20 billion waste from Saxby’s Farm Bill. The Banks, Real Estate & Lawyers just got a $2 TRILLION gift from the Bail Out the Banks act which Saxby & Johnny voted for. Not a bad return on your money.
By CAS
October 9, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this
SO glad to see this race closing. Just donated to campaign again - everybody who cares should do the same. Turn out the incumbents and especially Chambliss - he has been shameless in his support of this shameful administration. He should pay for his affiliations with at least his job. People need to stop voting by party and vote for the candidate.
By CAS
October 9, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
SO glad to see this race closing. Just donated to campaign again - everybody who cares should do the same. Turn out the incumbents and especially Chambliss - he has been shameless in his support of this shameful administration. He should pay for his affiliations, bad judgement and general disregard for his constituents with his job. People need to stop voting by party and vote for the candidate.
By Daniel
October 9, 2008 6:37 PM | Link to this
Sam:
I was leaning towards Chambliss, but now I’m not so sure. I’m an independent voter, and while at first I was for Chambliss, I am in the undecided ranks and could possibly vote for Martin.
By Daniel
October 9, 2008 6:43 PM | Link to this
Sam:
I was leaning towards Chambliss, but now I’m not so sure. I’m an independent voter, and while at first I was for Chambliss, I am in the undecided ranks and could possibly vote for Martin.
By Sir Winston
October 10, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
Martin is a lib. Just because Saxby is not the perfect conservative is no reason to do something foolish and put a man further to the left in office. Think before you vote. Protest voting never ever works out. Peace.
By Yep
October 10, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Has everyone forgetten that Saxby also voted Amnesty for Illegals? Has everyone forgotten the crowds at his Smyrna offices protesting his decision? This sellout should go back to Moultrie branded as a back stabbing lover of big corporations and the enemy of tax payers!! He is not for us!! I am voting for Mickey Mouse before I vote for this clown. Protest or not, I still have a conscious.
By Will Jones
October 11, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
For Georgians not directly aware of Chambliss’ being a tool of Big Business instead a servant of the People and family farmers, here’s an article I just read that puts it down very clearly.