During the taping of the Atlanta Press Club debate of Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, to be aired statewide on Georgia Public Broadcasting at 7 p.m. this evening, rivals criticized Michelle Nunn for allegedly ducking their party’s brand.
From the Associated Press:
"I think it's self-evident that since I am on the stage here that I am a Democrat," Nunn said, listing her support for increasing the minimum wage, immigration reform and pay equality. "I am absolutely in pursuit of the Democratic nomination and at the same time I want to represent all of Georgia."
It’s true that Nunn’s TV ads don’t mention that she’s running as a Democrat:
But it’s rather a bum rap, given that you’d also be hard-pressed to see party ID touted by Republicans. Karen Handel skips that detail:
Jack Kingston doesn’t mention his GOP roots:
Nor does Phil Gingrey:
Even in the governor’s race, Nathan Deal is running as an incumbent, but not necessarily a Republican:
In fact, we found only two statewide candidates who adorn themselves with the GOP label in their TV ads. David Perdue quietly notes that he is a “conservative Republican” in each of his, including this one:
While Paul Broun is a little more aggressive in his approach:
The point is that, given that Georgia has an open primary, personality is often considered a more powerful lure than party identification. And keep in mind that a large slice of Georgia’s electorate calls itself independent – in essence, advertising itself as willing to be wooed by both Republicans and Democrats.
About the Author