Democrat Michelle Nunn kicked off the U.S. Senate general election Wednesday morning promising not to deviate from her message of “collaboration” and declining to take a direct shot at her newly crowned foe, Republican David Perdue.
Nunn met with voters and volunteers at the Silver Skillet in Midtown Atlanta, then told reporters there would be a “contrast” between her career and Perdue’s. Neither has run for office before, as Nunn touts her experience leading the nonprofit that became Points of Light and Perdue running on his business credentials including stints as CEO of Dollar General and Reebok. Said Nunn:
"I think that demonstrated record and experience and that kind of approach is what people are hungry for and what I do not think you're going to hear from David Perdue."
Other Democrats already have started painting Perdue as a Mitt Romney-style aloof chief executive who made millions while trampling on the little guy via layoffs and outsourcing. The attacks rely in part on mud slung by other Republicans in a nasty, lengthy primary battle. Nunn, for now, is not going to be the messenger for such things.
Perdue signaled in his acceptance speech Tuesday night that he would tie Nunn to President Barack Obama, whose approval numbers in Georgia are dismal, and other national Democrats. She sought to shirk that label Wednesday morning:
"I've demonstrated that I'm an independent voice for Georgia, that I am going to actually focus on getting things done. I believe we have good ideas on both sides of the aisle. I don't think enough people in Washington recognize that."
Nunn plans to make 10 stops around the state over the next four days from Gainesville to Valdosta.
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