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Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Governor’s caravan makes skating rink stop
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sonny Perdue on Tuesday assumed the role Tuesday of veteran quarterback taking the team for the game-winning drive.
Through towns like Baconton, Americus, Camilla and Leesburg, the Georgia governor led a group of statewide Republican candidates on a series of meet-and-greets.
At each stop, Perdue rolled in with his huge recreational vehicle all decked out in Perdue for Governor blue.
Behind him trailed a series of SUVs with other GOP candidates and their teams.
Perdue, who clearly was the main draw, gave each his or her moment in the spotlight - making introductions at each spot.
“Politics is a team sport,” Perdue said to about 75 folks who showed for a 7 a.m. event gathering at Granny’s Kitchen just outside downtown Americus. “This is our team. We are proud of it.”
The trip is pure Perdue, the small town farmer and high school quarterback who grew into the role of Georgia’s most powerful elected official.
Rather than stop at more populated urban centers, Perdue is rolling past cotton fields and pecan groves to small-town Georgia.
Stops Tuesday included the historic McRee Hall in Camilla, the Stardust Skate Center in Leesburg, Granny’s Kitchen in Americus and a small charter school in Baconton.
In all, Tuesday’s four stops drew more than 1,000 folks - a strong turnout at each event.
Perdue’s letting folks know he hasn’t forgotten his humble roots.
“It’s before 9 in the morning. We are in the Stardust Skate Center in Leesburg. Look at this crowd. Wow. We are here for all of Georgia. This is a wonderful crowd. This is what Georgia’s all about,” Perdue said.
Some might question the value of a trip that will consume a week and hit so many tiny towns that most Georgians probably have never visited.
But Nick Ayers, Perdue’s campaign manager said in rural Georgia its still important to shake hands and look folks in the eye.
“People in rural Georgia still appreciate being asked directly for their vote,” Ayers said.
Perry McGuire, attorney general hopeful, agreed. He said the trip with Perdue as the main attraction will allow down-ballot candidates to reach thousands of average Georgians they otherwise couldn’t hope for.
He plans to follow Perdue throughout the week.
“We couldn’t do this on our own,” McGuire said.
Americus - Granny’s Kitchen
Granny’s Kitchen sits outside of downtown Americus about 2 miles from the historic Windsor Hotel, a grand Victorian hotel restored to its breathtaking former glory.
The restaurant and adjoining gas station are a little more down home. In fact, Granny’s slogan is “down home cooking.”
And, at 7 a.m., with a little morning chill in the air, there are about 75 folks outside waiting for the governor. There are students from Georgia Southwestern College, nursing home workers in scrubs, local political activists and a number of candidates eager for the governor’s arrival.
Kathy Cox, the state superintendent of schools, worked the small gathering saying she would be following Perdue much of the week. She said she was pleased to be trailing Perdue.
“There are only a few folks here I’ve ever met before,” Cox said.
One of them was Rusty James, 19, a member of Perdue’s former fraternity. He said the students came out just after dawn to see a fellow Kappa Sigma.
He said he would vote for Perdue next week.
“He’s a good man,” James said. “He knows what he’s doing.”
Granny’s made sure everybody was fed well with a classic southern breakfast line featuring scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and biscuits.
Perdue, though, did not sit down to eat. The governor worked the crowd, posed for pictures and made brief remarks from a doorway between two dining rooms.
No dark suit here, Perdue wore a white polo shirt, khaki pants and cowboy boots.
“I’m for you,” he said. “These parts of Georgia are important to us. That’s why we are here.”
Perdue pushed Cagle forward, stressing the importance of electing a Republican lt. governor. Cagle, who hails from Gainesville, said he identified with rural Georgia and matched the values of rural Georgians.
And, Cagle also pumped up the governor.
“It’s rare to find an individual that possesses the character of Sonny Perdue,” he said.
Within 45 minutes, the whilwind visit was over. The bus with Perdue pulled away.
Dean Bush, the granny in Granny’s kitchen, said she was pleased to support Perdue and host the event.
“I believe in what he believes in,” she said.
Leesburg - the Stardust Skate Center
The Perdue team, with local help, transformed the skating rink into GOP territory with ribbons, signs, banners galore and a choir from nearby Leesburg Middle School all dressed in red T-shirts.
The walls of the building held cube after cube of skates all neatly arranged by size with glow in the dark fabric.
Air hockey tables, pop-a-shot basketball hoops and other games ate up space outside the rink. Of course, overhead, a mirrored disco ball awaited the flip of a switch to begin spinning.
The student singers opened the rally with the Star Spangled Banner and closed down the session with God Bless America.
Some 300 folks joined Perdue at an hour most should have either been starting their work day or on the way to the office.
The Republican team following Perdue expanded to about a dozen candidates including, secretary of state hopeful Karen Handel.
Brent and Carolyn Whiddon brought their nine children to the skate center. Their 10th is on the way.
Perdue pulled them out of the crowd and lauded them as he spoke.
“This is why we are coming to the Stardust Skate Center,” Perdue said.
Whiddon said the event was “a field trip for us.” The kids are home schooled. Whiddon said he was voting for Perdue on Tuesday.
“We are Christians,” Whiddon said. “We’d like to see a conservative government that’s responsible and protects our rights.”
Chuck Eaton, who’s running for Public Service Commission, said the governor’s trip through rural Georgia should pay off in valuable votes.
“Everyone one of these towns has a local television station and local reporters and they will record that we were here,” Eaton said.
In Leesburg, like Americus, Perdue found time to takes jabs the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for its coverage and to stress how the paper’s recent endorsement of his opponent proved he was the man for Georgia.
“This is what politics is all about,” Perdue said.
Camilla - Historic McKree Hall
In Camilla, the governor drew a huge crowd to the side lawn of the historic McKree Hall. Once the home to a family that made its fortune in turpentine, the 1906 home boasts stunning pine floors, soaring pocket doors and furniture that’s been in the home since its construction.
The Victorian-era home now operates as a bed-and-breakfast, restaurant and event facility.
Local GOP activists hustled about for an hour before they had the home and its garden ready for a luncheon for 300-plus.
The governor actually showed a few minutes early - highly unusual on a barnstorming campaign tour.
And the weather cooperated with near 80-degree temperatures and cloud-streaked blue skies.
Janine Dover, 62, said she’s an independent voter, like many of her neighbors. She’s certain she’ll vote for Perdue on Tuesday but less sure about the rest of the slate.
“I think Sonny’s good for Georgia,” she said.
Where many metro Atlanta communities might have though little about a stop from a campaigning governor, Camilla residents were clearly proud to be included.
“It’s good for Camilla,” Dover said. “It’s good for them to come to a small town like this.”
For the governor, the message was more of the same. He likened the tour to old time politicians who would ride around the state and shout from the back of a flatbed truck.
“This is putting people over politics,” Perdue said. “This is heart-to-heart politics.”
Perude ended his remarks by becoming his own cheeleader.
“I’ve been to three places already today and we haven’t had a four more years chant yet,” the governor said. “Four more years. Four more years. Four more years.”
Permalink | | Categories: Campaign trail diary: Perdue
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