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Friday, November 3, 2006
Gridiron campaigning
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For Mark Taylor, the last day of the work week found him at Friday Night Lights.
In the heart of Middle Georgia, in the heart of one of the biggest football rivalries in the area, Taylor campaigned at the Northside High School- Westside High School game in Macon.
He couldn’t have found a better one.
The game at the Bibb County Sports Complex pitted undefeated and nationally ranked Northside of Warner Robins against once beaten Westside.
Unlike other events during Taylor’s final week on the campaign trail, his trip to the game was more informal. Football weather forced Taylor into a trench coat as he walked through the crowds and concession area greeting supporters.
“I’m Mark Taylor. I need your support,” he told them.
“We need a new governor.”
One group of Westside girls screamed when Taylor shook their hands.
“They are treating him like a rock star,” said Terry Tripp, a member of the Bibb County School Board and vice president of the Democratic Women of Bibb County.
“Middle Georgia loves Mark Taylor. He can never lose coming here.”
At the end of half time, with Northside leading 13-7 and with the bands ending their shows, Taylor walked on to the field and waved, receiving polite applause.
“It is good for the people to see him out here. I am voting for him,” said Will Mitchell, 50, of Warner Robins. “Because we need him and it is time for a change and time for Sonny to go.”
Roslyn Moore, 42, was also a supporter. She took at least two pictures with the lieutenant governor on her camera phone.
“That’s my vote and it had nothing to do with him coming here tonight,” Moore said. “I like what he is saying about the HOPE Scholarships and education. He’s true and for us.”
Although few were thinking about reading and writing in the middle of a football game, Lynn Farmer, another member of the school board, said that Taylor’s coming to Middle Georgia to attend a football game was a significant event that spoke to his commitment to education.
“It is important for him to come out here and talk to parents who happen to be at the game,” Farmer said.
“His educational plan is right on target for us. He understands that pre-K is important. He understands the need for early intervention. He is a big supporter of teachers.”
Taylor left shortly after half time, stopped through First Friday in downtown Macon then flew back to Atlanta. He is set to begin a Metro-wide bus tour at 7:45 a.m. Saturday. The election is Tuesday.
“He seems like a realist,” said Mike Clemons, an airline pilot from Lizella. “He knows he is the underdog. It is tough to fight against Sonny’s money.”
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Perdue caravan hits the mountains
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In Hollywood, actors often being upstaged by animals and children.
In politics, that same rule doesn’t apply to food. As long as folks attend, politicians are happy to share the spotlight with a good meal.
So, Gov. Sonny Perdue began Friday with a 8 a.m. event at the Dillard House, in Dillard, Ga. - an inn and restaurant famed for both the quanity and quality of its southern cooking.
The breakfast spread - or Perdue - drew a capacity crowd of more than 300 folks who filled up every seat and spilled into the hallways.
The breakfast spread dwarfed the stops Perdue made the entire week before. The group stuffed themselves on pastries - croissants, biscuits, cinnamon buns - scrambled eggs, sausage, toast, berries and fruit, pancakes as well as a southern staple that’s not always easy to find, grits with red eye gravy.
Perdue touched on familiar themes - family, the state’s booming economy and the need to elect a slate of Republicans to run the state.
His wife, Mary Perdue, spoke in Dillard - an unusual turn - and was well received.
She said her husband’s honesty and integrity attracted her 34 years ago and those qualities remain true today.
“He is still the same man,” the first lady said.
Charles Gergeni, an insurance agent from Clayton, said he was pleased with the job Perdue has done so far. Gergeni, who considers himself a conservative, but not necessarily a Republican, said he was especially pleased with the economy under Perdue.
His one request of the governor? “I’d be interested in seeing taxes come down a little bit,” Gergeni said.
HARTWELL
In Hartwell, Perdue made what may be his only stop at a private home - the Teasley home just off the downtown square.
Faire and Dean Teasley hosted more than 150 Republican faithful in a huge family room that Faire Teasley said could hold twice as many.
Dean Teasley was Hart County’s first elected Republican county surveyor.
The faithful Republicans’ home, a brick Victorian with elaborate woodwork and wide heart of pine plant floors, had previous lives as a funeral home and a church. Now only the Teasley’s use the 7-bedroom home.
Faire Teasley said she’s a big fan of the governor. “I love him. I support him 100 percent.”
The event gave the Teasley’s a chance to mix politics and business. The home is for sale - she said it’s worth $2 million, but would take $1.6 million.
The Hartwell event also stood out because a handful of supporters of Democratic Rep. Allan Powell, who represents the area, stood across the street. They also plastered a building across from the Teasley home with signs.
The opposition party has made no effort to disrupt or even appear at any other stops.
DANIELSVILLE
Where do Republicans go to eat in Danielsville?
Zebs, a small barbeque spot, about 5 miles from the downtown square.
With the governor gone to other events and the next gathering not until 5:30 in Gainesville, the down-ballot entourage took a detour for a long lunch and some relaxation.
SUVs filled the small parking lot.
Digging in were Karen Handel, secretary of state candidate; Brent Brown, labor commisisoner candidate; Michael Wiggins, who’s running for state supreme court; Chuck Eaton, who’s running for the public service commission, and Gary Black, candidate for agriculture commissioner.
The shocking revelation from lunch? Handel is a closet Trekkie.
She took serious ribbing for a Visa card with a Star Trek Voyager theme, arguably the worst series in the proud, long history of the sci-fi franchise.
Handel explained she only got the card because it came with a photo she wanted to give to her husband.
“It’s my emergency card. I never use it,â€? Handel explained.
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