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DEL.ICIO.USFeeling the momentum
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An hour before Mark Taylor was supposed to arrive at the Thomas Lay Community Center in Athens for a Democratic get-out-the-vote rally, Isaac Smith still did not know whether Taylor would get his vote for governor.
“I have to talk to the candidate. I have to look in their eyes,” said Smith, an 18-year-old from Snellville, who was in Athens working on a voter awareness project. “Talk to me after I see him.”
Two hours later Smith was sold.
“I’ll vote for him,” Smith said.
After Taylor spoke, Smith stole him away for a couple of minutes. The two talked politics and Taylor told him to establish himself as a community leader, if he was serious about pursuing politics.
“He seems pretty sincere,” Smith said. “I got to analyze his speech. Now I have to watch what he does. It is good to hear someone, but it is more important to see what he does afterwards. I will be watching him.” Taylor said he welcomed that and was heartened by Smith’s sudden support.
“This is what is so exciting. People, in their busy lives are starting to tune in to this election. I feel the momentum moving forward,” Taylor said. “They are seeing the difference.”
After focusing his efforts earlier in the week in metro Atlanta, Taylor took a big step outside Thursday night to campaign in Athens.
In the community center’s gymnasium, several candidates for local and state offices gave stump speeches as the crowd munched on pizza, potato chips and an orange sherbet drink. Sylvanus “Zeke” Turner, a local performer, serenaded between speeches, singing gospel music.
As the candidates spoke – championing the cause of the Democratic Party and promoting themselves – Taylor waded through the gymnasium’s bleachers, shaking almost every hand and looking into the eyes of the 200 or so party supporters.
“We are gonna have a great win for the people of Georgia on Nov. 7 because of your hard work,” Taylor said. “These races are not about the candidates. These races are about the people and the people need a new governor.”
The unofficial theme of Thursday’s event was hard work. Taylor told the group not to be outworked and urged them to phone and email friends, even knock on their doors to get them out to the polls.
Labor commissioner Michael Thurmond said that kind of work would be needed to defeat Republicans Tuesday.
“The Republican party has developed an aggressive and successful ground game,” Thurmond said. “In order for us to be successful, we as Democrats have to reach out to as many people as possible to get them to the polls. That includes getting independents, liberals and moderates as well.”
Taylor, who is winding down his bid to become Georgia’s next governor, told the Democrats that he was the candidate the state needed and that he and Sonny Perdue were political opposites.
“Go out and tell my story. Tell them the big difference between Mark Taylor and Sonny Perdue. Tell them that everything I am for, he is against,” said Taylor, adding that he will restore cuts made to public education, restore HOPE dollars and develop a low cost prescription drug plan.
“I come from across the state with good news. That a new, fresh wind is coming,” Thurmond said. “A wind that will take back the governor’s seat, the House and the Senate. We have to stick together. We have to live together. Work together. Pray together and on Nov. 7, go to the polls together.”
On Friday, Taylor is expected to attend a football game at Westside High School in Macon before visiting a First Friday mixer in downtown Macon.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Campaign trail diary: Taylor
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By hkh
November 3, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this
I see no real “grassroots” organization in the Taylor campaign. It’s easy to talk about “grassroots”, much harder to organize and make it work.