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October 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
Does President Bush’s Georgia visit help or hurt Republicans?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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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.
Permalink | | Categories: Campaign trail diary: Perdue
Perdue boosts Irvin opponent
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue gives Gary Black a publicity boost in a new full-color, glossy mailing to voters, paid for by the Georgia Republican Party.
Black, 48, is the Republican farmer and agricultural lobbyist from Commerce who’s challenging Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin, the Democrat who has served since 1969, in the November election.
In the mailer, the candidates say they will promote the use of biofuels “so that we lessen our dependence on foreign oil.� Black also piggybacks on Perdue’s plan to “make sure illegal immigrants don’t stop at the welfare line.�
The campaign advertisement says Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, Perdue’s challenger, and Irvin have no plans to address biofuels, illegal immigration and food safety.
Said Perdue campaign spokesman Derrick Dickey, “Tommy Irvin is a nice enough man, but he’s been in office for over four decades, and while times have changed in the ag industry, he hasn’t.�
Democratic Party Chairman Bobby Kahn said Tuesday, in a written statement: “Mark Taylor will focus on the pocketbooks of everyday Georgians, not spend his days trying to enrich his own.�
Kahn added: “Tommy Irvin has built a career making sure our food is safe and that Georgia’s agribusiness is second to none.�
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Campaign trail diary: Perdue
Bush plans Ga. trips for Burns, Collins
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
President Bush will make two trips to Georgia next week to campaign for Republican congressional challengers Max Burns and Mac Collins, the White House has confirmed.
Bush will campaign for Burns, who’s opposing Democratic Rep. John Barrow, Monday in Statesboro. The following day, Bush is expected to appear at an afternoon rally for Collins at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry. Collins is challenging Democratic Rep. Jim Marshall.
Permalink | | Categories: Campaign notebook
Taylor says software glitch caused error
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Republicans this week accused Democratic Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor of illegally keeping campaign contributions intended for a primary runoff that never occurred. Taylor defeated Democratic Secretary of State Cathy Cox ouright in the July 18 Democratic Primary, avoiding a runoff.
The state GOP has filed an ethics complaint against Taylor, contending his gubernatorial improperly kept money intended for the primary runoff.
But Taylor’s spokesman, Rick Dent, said it’s all a misunderstanding caused by a software glitch.
According to Dent: “The software that we use automatically treats “runoff� contributions as “primary runoff.� Our vendor will be making the necessary correction in the software and we will amend our reports as needed. Our contributions are legal.�
Permalink | | Categories: Campaign notebook
Latest poll shows no governor runoff
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue would avoid a runoff with Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor according to the latest tracking poll by InsiderAdvantage / Majority Opinion.
Fifty percent of the 500 likely voters quizzed Oct. 21-23 said they would vote for Perdue.
Thirty-one percent picked Taylor, 8 percent picked Libertarian Garret Michael Hayes, and 11 percent were undecided.
The margin of error for the poll is 4 percentage points.
Permalink | | Categories: Campaign notebook
Tired of political ads?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Are there any ads that are effective? Others you can’t stand seeing one more time?
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Question of the Day
Can Mark Taylor win?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Recent polls have consistently shown Gov. Sonny Perdue with a double digit lead over Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor. With two weeks to go before the election, can Taylor narrow the gap?
Permalink | | Categories: Question of the Day
Poll: Hunstein “well-qualified”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Supreme Court Justice Carol W. Hunstein, who is seeking re-election, is considered “well qualified� or “qualified� by more than 96 percent of the members of the State Bar of Georgia who responded to the Bar’s recent judicial poll and had an opinion about her qualifications, according to a press release.
Her opponent, Mike Wiggins, was rated as “not qualified� to serve on the Supreme Court by 70 percent of the lawyers who had an opinion.
Hunstein received a “well qualified� rating by 85 percent of the State Bar members with an opinion, compared to only 16 percent for her opponent in the Nov. 7 General Election.
According to the raw numbers, of the 4,936 survey responses for Justice Hunstein, 3,828 said she is “well qualified,� 491 rated her as “qualified,� and only 161 gave her a “not qualified� rating. Only 456 respondents (9 percent) said they lacked sufficient knowledge to express an opinion about Hunstein’s qualifications.
Read the poll: 2006 Judicial Poll Results
Permalink | | Categories: Campaign notebook
Taylor “bash” Tuesday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Taylor campaign is hosting a “Big Guy’s Big Bash” Tuesday in Atlanta.
The event for campaign contributors, hosted by several Democrat heavyweights, including former Sen. Max Cleland, former Gov. Roy Barnes, former Atlanta Mayor Andy Young and current Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, will be held at The Loft on West Peachtree Street.
Others scheduled to make an appearance include Hank Aaron, Dominique Wilkins and Kenny Leon.
Permalink | | Categories: Campaign notebook
Do you vote early?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thirty states, including Georgia, offer early voting. In fact, experts estimate that more than one-fifth of the voters expected to cast ballots in November will vote early. Have you voted early? Has the experience been pleasant? Does the availability of early voting make you more likely to vote? Do you have concerns about the practice?
Permalink | | Categories: Question of the Day
Are you an informed voter or a pre-election crammer?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Permalink | | Categories: Question of the Day
What should the gubernatorial candidates do to get the female vote?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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What should the gubernatorial candidates do to get the female vote?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Permalink | | Categories: Question of the Day
Campaign contributions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Do believe elected officials’ decisions and policies are influenced by campaign contributions?
Permalink | | Categories: Question of the Day
A Nose In The News
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Sonny Perdue says his opponent’s nose is growing — and his campaign doctors a picture of Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor to show it in a TV ad.
It’s all over the value of a tract of land Perdue bought near Disney World in 2004. In the Pinocchio ad, Perdue contends Taylor is lying when he says it’s worth $40 million. Taylor’s camp is relying on a Democratic Party estimate on what the land could be worth if it’s developed.
Perdue says the land is worth $2 million. He playfully offers to sell it to Taylor for $20 million - or even $10 million. “How can we believe a single word Mark Taylor says?” an announcer asks.
In an ethics complaint, the Democrats complain that Perdue valued the land at just $185,000 on his financial disclosure forms. They say that helps hide the doubling of Perdue’s net worth during his four years as governor. Taylor also has ads questioning the ethics of the Perdue land deal.
What do you think about the Pinocchio ad? Are negative ads a turn off, or do they energize voters to turn out in November?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Question of the Day
The merit of debates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are two more gubernatorial debates before the Nov. 7 election. How important are the debates in helping you make up your mind about a candidate.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Categories: Question of the Day
Perdue touts graduation coaches
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sponsor: Sonny Perdue for governor
The ad: The latest in Gov. Sonny Perdue’s “Sonny Do list� ads opens with a young lady looking out the shades with the sun streaming in, a common theme depicting his 2002 campaign mantra of “A Sonny Day in Georgia.�
The ad then cuts to Perdue asking, “What’s on your Sonny do list?â€? Next comes a mom with her two children, and she says, “The big one on my Sonny Do list … my child struggling in school.â€? Then it cuts back to Perdue saying, “We’ve had great success putting a graduation coach in every high school, and I believe we ought to do that for middle schools as well.â€?
As he does in the other “Sonny Do list� ads, Perdue ends the commercial by asking Georgians to send e-mails to tell him what’s on their mind.
The reality:Perdue is timing the ads with proposals he’s announcing in the final few months of the campaign. In this case, he talks about a proposal he released Monday to put dropout prevention counselors into middle schools.
He was successful last session in getting the General Assembly to fund such counselors in high schools. However, the “success� Perdue is talking about in this commercial is open to debate. Some schools haven’t accepted the state’s money for the program.
In some cases, they were already paying for such counselors. In others, they turned down the money, saying the program had too much red tape or that the state wasn’t providing enough money. Since the state program has only paid for graduation coaches at high schools this school year, and the school year is only about two months old, it’s impossible to say whether they have lowered Georgia’s traditionally high dropout rate.
However, his program has helped put dropout prevention counselors into high schools that previously did not have them.
And, according to his staff, the “Sonny Do list� ads have been successful in their own right, bringing in thousands ofe-mail suggestions from Georgians.
