Our AJC colleagues Aaron Gould Sheinin and Jeremy Redmon, traveleing with the Democrats, sent along the following:
MACON -- Apparently, confidence is a bipartisan virtue. Jason Carter and Michelle Nunn, too, believe their campaigns end Tuesday night, but with them victorious.
“We stand on the cusp of an extraordinary victory tomorrow,” Nunn, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, told more than 100 supporters at a midday rally at Tattnal Square.
Carter – the Democratic candidate for governor -- offered a similar prediction while campaigning with U.S. Rep. John Lewis at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market.
“Given the giant turnout that we have seen, we feel like we are going to avoid a runoff also and that we are going to win tomorrow on Election Day,” Carter said. “We are excited where we are.”
While their Republicans opponents, Senate hopeful David Perdue and Gov. Nathan Deal, are flying around the state Nunn has kept it “low to the ground,” as she says.
“We’ve been traveling the state for the last 15 months,” Nunn said. “We want to end the way we began. We don’t have a huge RV that says ‘Outsider’ on the side. We have our minivan to go talk to Georgia families and voters. We are very confident. Very excited. We see tremendous enthusiasm and momentum.”
Logan Fowler, a Mercer sophomore studying political science, stood to the side of the rally in his bow tie and blazer. He said Nunn has helped him reveal his true self.
“I’ve been a closeted Southern Democrat for too long,” Fowler said. “I’m a proud supporter now.”
Later Monday, Nunn was scheduled to help canvass neighborhoods near Decatur and then take part in a massive phone banking operation from her campaign headquarters.
She began the day in Augusta, however, where Margaret Wesley of Evans said voting for Nunn and Democrat Jason Carter gives her a feeling of nostalgia.
“I just turned 66 and I’m voting for the kids and grandkids of the folks I voted for way back when,” Wesley said, referring to Nunn’s father, long-time U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn, and to Carter’s grandfather, the former President Jimmy Carter. “We need new blood.”
Nunn, too, said she feels nostalgic, but for the past 15 months of campaigning.
“We’ve come full circle,” she said. “We’ve traveled the state talking about how much is at stake tomorrow. You all know this. We’ve been working to make a difference.
“If every voice is heard I know we will prevail tomorrow and make history.”
Carter and Lewis visited Morehouse College before grabbing lunch at the market. Carter also had stops planned for Roswell and Decatur.
“Jason Carter is going to win. He is going to be the next governor of Georgia,” Lewis said. “I believe it. He is going to win tomorrow. I have been involved in a lot of campaigns in this state. In my own races, I have not seen (excitement) like this ever.”
James Fambrough of Clayton County sat nearby at the market, munching on a tilapia salad. Carter has his vote, he said, partly because of his famous grandfather.
“I like Jimmy Carter,” said the contractor. “Jimmy is an honest country guy. I think his grandson will be honest.”
Carter later climbed atop a chair and made his final pitch before Election Day, poking at Deal as he thanked hundreds of supporters who had gathered at Twain’s Brewpub & Billiards in Decatur.
“If this is the best the governor can do, we need a new governor,” Carter said, eliciting cheers from supporters who had set up a phone bank operation in the pub.
“As of right now, we are winning this election,” said Carter, who just completed a grueling 1,300-mile trek across the state.
About the Author
