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DEL.ICIO.USA Chambliss strategist on Martin: ‘My dog could have been on the ballot’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You know how a coach will scour the sports page for trash talk by the opposition, something he can post on the locker room bulletin board to get his squad riled up?
As a kind of Thanksgiving gift, the Republican campaign of Saxby Chambliss has thoughtfully provided the following assessment of the U.S. Senate runoff and the Democratic opposition, courtesy of Politico:
But what keeps Chambliss operatives up at night is that the runoff — with its emphasis on turnout — has little to do with either candidate’s performance and more to do with their own efforts to rally the base.
“My dog could have been on the ballot and would be in exactly the same position Jim Martin is today,” said Tom Perdue, Chambliss’ longtime political consultant. “Martin was the beneficiary of an Obama wave that swept the country. As a person, as a candidate, he’s the most insignificant opponent in all my 30 years of politics. Nobody knows who he is.”
Update: Martin spokesman Matt Canter in turn offered something for the Chambliss bulletin board:
“Saxby Chambliss spent 6 years stockpiling $13 million from special interests only to waste nearly every dime of it during the general election. I’m sure Tom Perdue’s dog could have also done a better job managing Saxby Chambliss’ campaign. In fact, Perdue’s dog is probably better qualified to fix this economy than Saxby Chambliss.”
Several Democrats have piped up with reminders that Perdue contributed $2,000 to Martin’s 2006 campaign for lieutenant governor.
Comments
By hogleg
November 25, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
agreed
By Paul W
November 25, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this
Like it or not, smart or not, the statement is true.
Am I the only one who has noticed how much Martin looks like a character from the old Mad Magazine?
By Left
November 25, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
Just when you think Chambliss and his minions couldn’t get any more despicable they sink lower and lower. If Sax is re-elected he will be relegated to the role of an insignificant ignorant redneck with no clout to bring Georgia any benefits. We have got to get out of the slump and back on the right track. Sax is the problem, not the solution.
By Rich D
November 25, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
The truth hurts.
I am a lifelong Republican, and there is no logical reason that Saxby should not have won this race handily except for 1) the Obama wave that Perdue talks about, and 2) the fact that the RNC has lost the plot over the last few years and let the conservative base fracture. That is not the Dems fault — the is the Republican’s fault.
It’s almost like they have forgotten how to mount a proper grassroots political campaign.
By rightofcenter
November 25, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
This could really rally the dozen or so people in the state who actually care about Martin.
Perdue is, of course, absolutely correct. Martin is an awful candidate. His dog may actually have done better.
By SISSY SAXBY
November 25, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
Tom Perdue has been a Georgia political hitman for decades. What better way to end his career than running a campaign for SISSY SAXBY ?
By Jules
November 25, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
I’m not sure what this says about the “insider” to repeat this…especially since you say it’s trash talk. How is this helpful to the discussion? Or to the process?
Saxby’s one term has been lacking in anything I’d call a record of acheievment beyond golfing and dining out on PAC money.
Saxby is old school, Dem turned Rep, for political gain-he’s not exactly the poster child for clean campaigns run on issues or ideas. He’s coasted and brought us nothing. I think lots of GA voters get this, and regardless of the boogie man senarios on my answering machine-Saxby offers me nothing but minority status on the back bench.
By Rich D
November 25, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
The truth hurts.
I am a lifelong Republican, and there is no logical reason that Saxby should not have won this race handily except for 1) the Obama wave that Perdue talks about, and 2) the fact that the RNC has lost the plot over the last few years and let the conservative base fracture. That is not the Dems fault — the is the Republican’s fault.
It’s almost like they have forgotten how to mount a proper grassroots political campaign.
By Nurse Netroots
November 25, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
“Almost” forgot? I’d say it’s more like ‘em having been in a coma. Brutish, bellowing, old-school style, money-only buffoonery, in the mode of Tom Perdue, puts “shoo-ins” in runoffs. He’ll be looking for work soon too. Just like the rest of us.
By jim
November 25, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
and now he has the future of the republican party, sarah palin, coming to lend a hand. all my respect for saxby is gone.
By HughG
November 25, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
I gotta ask: If Jim Martin’s such a nobody, how come it seems like 100% of Saxby and the GOP’s ads and mailings are negative hit jobs on Martin? If your guy’s so great, why not talk up his accomplishments at some point?
By abc
November 25, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
I’m voting against Chambliss again because of the hatchet job he did on Max Cleland in the last election. That it worked for him is a sad, sad reflection on Georgia voters.
He might as well be running against a dog, I’d still vote against him, and it’s nothing to do with Obama. It’s to do with Saxby being a creep. Just the same, it figures that stupid crap like this would come out of the Chambliss campaign.
By yurgus
November 25, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
“I am a lifelong Republican…”
Can’t you do anything better with your life?
If hog of a Chambliss wins, Georgia loses…yet again!
By Curt
November 25, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
“I am a lifelong Republican…” GOOD GRIEF thats a shameful statement to make, unless its followed by, “but this time I vote for the good of all”. LOOK where the Republican party has taken our country, especially during the last 8 years, AND VOTE APPROPRIATELY, GEORGIANS.
By Curt
November 25, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
“I am a lifelong Republican…” GOOD GRIEF thats a shameful statement to make, unless its followed by, “but this time I vote for the good of all”. LOOK where the Republican party has taken our country, especially during the last 8 years, AND VOTE APPROPRIATELY, GEORGIANS.
By WILL BUSH PARDON $axby chambliss also?
November 25, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
President George Bush is to consider pardoning Saxby Chambliss for misrepresenting the citizens of Georgia.
By jacksmith
November 25, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
WE HAVE MORE TO DO:
Democrat Jim Martin is in a runoff against Bush Republican Saxby Chambliss for the Senate seat from Georgia. Bush’s Saxby Chambliss voted against spending a few measly dollars to provide health care coverage for Georgia, and Americas needy children. But he supported wasting hundreds of billions of your dollars, and the life BLOOD of Americas finest on an unnecessary war in Iraq.
At a time when 47 million of you have no health insurance coverage, and over 100 million of you with insurance are just one major illness away from complete financial destruction. Bush and Saxby Chambliss voted to make the heart break of bankruptcy relief even harder for all of you to use.
You see, Bush and Saxby Chambliss, and his family don’t have to worry about their health care coverage. They have the finest health care coverage your tax money can buy for them. Courtesy of you. The American Tax payer. In fact, no one but the super rich can afford the health care coverage you the tax payer provide for Saxby Chambliss, and his family for FREE! with your tax dollars.
He supposedly works for you. But he doesn’t think you and your family should have access to the type of taxpayer supported FREE health care that you provide for him, and his loved ones for FREE!. Doesn’t that just make you BURRING MAD!
Vote for JIM MARTIN for US senator from Georgia. Vote for JIM Martin who will be on your side. Vote for JIM MARTIN who will work with President Obama and a majority congress for you. Vote for JIM MARTIN most of all for your-self, your family’s, friends, and loved ones. Vote for JIM MARTIN for a better America, and a better World.
Don’t let Saxby Chambliss make a chump out of you by tricking you into voting against your own best interest. Saxby chambliss is NOT! on your side. He’s not one of you. He is on George Bush’s side. And we all know what a catastrophe the Bush Chambliss administration has been the past 8 years.
Contact all your family and friends and do every thing you can to see to it that JIM MARTIN and GEORGIANS! take that senate seat back for Georgia, and America. No matter where you live in America. This is important to you. President Obama will need all the help, and power you can give him to try and fix this catastrophic mess that the Corrupt Bush Chambliss administration has created.
As I said before you will have to vote in overwhelming numbers to overcome the Bush Chambliss “Let Them Eat Cake” vote fraud machine. Vote early if you can. Then help everyone you can get to the polls and vote for JIM MARTIN. You and your loved ones don’t have to be Saxby Chambliss’s victims anymore.
I know you will get it done. Just like you did for President Obama.
God bless all of you
jacksmith - WORKING CLASS… :-)
By Dylan
November 25, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this
Nothing says cronyism like insulting the popularity of your opponent.
“Nobody knows who he is.”
Isn’t that what Republicans worship? The underdog, ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ type of character?
Then why do they embody the very same ‘Washington politics’ that they so often rally against?
Please Georgians (I am one as well, but I am 16, and cannot vote), do not let him slide through on our tax money while he continues to ignore the working class.
By Bo Chambliss LOBBYIST
November 26, 2008 6:08 AM | Link to this
I’d vote for Perdues dog before I’d Vote for SAXBY THE SOCIALIST.Saxe Georgia, Vote Martin