The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was in town this week to reiterate its support for Jack Kingston in the Republican runoff for U.S. Senate.
Kingston has enjoyed a spate of endorsements since the May 20 primary. You could almost say he’s snatched up every endorsement worth having. Almost.
A newish GOP group called Concord 51, built as a space where young Republican professionals can rally around conservative, non-social issues, is about to endorse former Dollar General CEO David Perdue in the U.S. Senate race.
“He really gets the innovative tech industry,” said Beau Allen, who heads up Concord 51’s Atlanta chapter. Allen is the grandson of former Atlanta mayor Ivan Allen.
The endorsement won’t bring a great deal of cash Perdue’s way. The best the group can do at this point is a $2,500 check. “Our value is in the endorsement of young professionals,” Allen said.
Here's some background on the group and its mission. The group gravitates toward Republican consensus-builders. "We back candidates that are forward-looking and can work both sides of the aisle," Allen said.
For instance, they like U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ collaboration with Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia on the federal debt issue – one of their three big concerns. The other two: energy and national defense. They welcome all Republicans of all stripes when it comes to social issues such as abortion and gay marriage.
State Sen. Hunter Hill, R-Atlanta, is one of their number. He has endorsed Perdue in the U.S. Senate race.
Concord51 is three years old. Here are a couple paragraphs from a Politico.com piece in 2013:
The group has built out city chapters in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Charlotte, Oklahoma City and Dallas and has a presence at five universities, including Fordham, Washington and Lee, and Emory. And, this year they have plans to launch in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston. Their goals are as big as their ambition. Organizers plan to roll out a page on their website for young Republicans interested in running for office. If potential candidates fit the Concord 51 mold, organizers say they want to help train, support and cultivate them to run for public office.
They have about 300 dues-paying members and reach a couple thousand through newsletters, Facebook Twitter and attendees of their events. Concord 51 has a five-tier membership system — the lowest level asks just $16 per year. Top-tier membership, dubbed the "Elite 51" requires a $1,500 annual pledge and includes benefits like access to exclusive events and tickets to the annual holiday event. It's unclear if the group's organizers will be able to meet their fundraising goals, but they have already attracted support of some party elders and are also looking for funding through measures other than individual donations from young donors.
About the Author
