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Monday, October 30, 2006
Perdue, Bush stump in Statesboro
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As Sonny Perdue started the last week of his campaign for a second term as governor, he had every reason to be confident.
Comfortably ahead in the polls, Perdue started Monday in Statesboro where more than 7,000 party faithful rallied with President Bush.
The rally began a week that promises eventually to take Perdue tthrough a series of less glamorous, smaller events at such places as Granny’s Kitchen in Americus and the Stardust Skatecenter in Leesberg.
The trip in a crowded RV with security escort trailing promises to be grassroots campaigning at its best, or worst depending on your view of small town, rural Georgia, black asphalt ribbons and white cotton fields.
Bush made Monday’s stop to boost the campaigns of Congressional hopeful Max Burns and the Georgia governor.
“It makes me feel comfortable to be here in a state where your governor wears cowboy boots,” the president said.
The boots, complete with a state seal, even drew the envy of a Secret Service agent who admired them when Perdue arrived for the morning rally.
The event in the gymnasium of Georgia Southern University was just like a Friday night pep rally - without the bonfire. Still, the GOP crowd enthusiastically applauded as Bush rolled through his positions on the war on terror, tax cuts and the economy.
A horde of media folks recorded every word as cameras clicked. Even conservative talk show host Sean Hannity joined the crowd, enjoying the celebrity treatment from his fans.
The governor took a seat on the stage behind the President. Wearing a dark suit, Perdue applauded politely as Bush fired off his stump speech.
Bush ended with an emphatic, “May God bless you and continue to bless the United States of America!” before heading into the front row of the crowd to shake hands and even hold a small boy.
Perdue, meanwhile, worked the crowd on the opposite side of the stage, signing Sonny banners, posing for pictures and greeting Georgia residents with warmth and enthusiasm.
Linda Clarkson of Claxton worked her way to the front of the crowd to get the governor to sign a campaign placard. She walked away pleased.
“I support him. I always have. I supported him from the very beginning. I still do,” Clarkson said.
Perdue left out the side door to head back to Atlanta for a 2 p.m. press event on early voting.
It was a light beginning to a week that will include visits to dozens of towns.
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