Democrat could make history in U.S. Senate race

One of the two Democrats vying to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson this year could make history and become the South’s first black senator since Reconstruction.

If one of them succeeds in what appears to be an uphill battle, Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond or political newcomer R.J. Hadley could also become Georgia’s first African-American senator.

Thurmond and Hadley are set to challenge each other in the July 20 Democratic primary. The winner will face Isakson in the Nov. 2 election.

The nation has had only six black senators to date, two of whom were from Mississippi during Reconstruction, according to the U.S. Senate Historical Office. Since Reconstruction, four African-Americans -- one from Massachusetts and three from Illinois -- have served in the Senate, including Barack Obama.

A historian who has written about the struggle against slavery in Georgia, Thurmond is keenly aware of the significance of his Senate bid. But he said he is focused on creating jobs. During a recent interview at Paschal’s Restaurant in Atlanta, Thurmond highlighted his experience as labor commissioner in helping Georgia’s unemployed workers find jobs. He said he wants to create a “fairer” tax system that rewards achievement and entrepreneurship, put an end to “fiscal irresponsibility” in Washington and eliminate the federal deficit.

“Unless and until we can get Americans back to work, we will not be able to address in any way the major problems facing our nation,” said Thurmond, a former state legislator who has won three straight statewide elections for labor commissioner. “I will bring a hands-on type of experience to this job that I can use to help develop a strategy that will result in job creation and employment for our citizens.”

At the same time, Thurmond dismisses theories he said he has heard about his candidacy, including one that says he is running to boost black voter turnout for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Roy Barnes. He called that theory nonsense and said he is running because he thinks he can do a better job in the Senate.

Hadley, meanwhile, is casting himself as an outsider who will challenge the status quo in politics, be accessible to voters and not be bought by corporate interests. The former chief of staff to the Rockdale County Board of Commissioners, Hadley is making his first bid for public office.

“I’m not a career politician,” he said. “I am really the best guy to take on Isakson because I am outside of the establishment. I’m about as outside as you get.”

Hadley said he, too, would focus on creating jobs if elected. But he also wants to accelerate the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and immediately start planning to pull troops out of Afghanistan. The money saved from pulling the troops out, he said, could be better spent on medical and educational benefits for veterans, jobs programs and public infrastructure.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face a tough fight against Isakson. The senator had $4.4 million in campaign cash on hand as of the end of March, federal records show. He defeated Denise Majette -- a black Democratic challenger -- for his Senate seat in 2004 with 57.9 percent of the vote. He has also built up strong name recognition by previously serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, in the Georgia Legislature and as chairman of the Georgia Board of Education.

“Johnny Isakson is probably the most popular politician in Georgia,” said Charles Bullock, a University of Georgia political scientist. “While Mike Thurmond would have been the odds-on favorite for another term as labor commissioner, he is a very long shot to become Georgia’s next senator.”

But Isakson is not unbeatable, said Eric Gray, a spokesman for the Georgia Democratic Party. Gray pointed out that Obama picked up 47 percent of the vote for president in Georgia in 2008, only narrowly losing to Republican John McCain, who got 52.2 percent.

“A lot of people look at Georgia as a red state, but Barack Obama was pretty competitive down here,” Gray said. “We are hopeful that is a trend rather than just a one-time anomaly.”

Isakson, meanwhile, said he is not taking his re-election campaign for granted. He said he started raising money for it in January of last year. He said he is campaigning on his record of fighting to stimulate the economy, protect taxpayers, support veterans and secure the nation’s border with Mexico.

“In the end it is: ‘What results have you delivered for the state? Have you represented the interests of the state?’ ” Isakson said in a recent telephone interview. “I think my record bears that out.”

R.J. Hadley

Age: 41

Education: Bachelor of Arts in sociology, Dartmouth College, 1991; Bachelor of Science in computer science, Richard Stockton College, 1997.

Profession: Former chief of staff, Rockdale County Board of Commissioners

Political experience: Georgia at-large delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention; former precinct captain and communications chairman for the Rockdale County Democratic Party

Military experience: N/A

Civic experience: Former court-ppointed special advocates volunteer; member, Springfield Baptist Church

Family status: Married to Tarah Hadley, five children

Michael Thurmond

Age: 57

Education: Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and religion, Paine College, 1975; juris doctor, University of South Carolina School of Law, 1978

Profession: Georgia's labor commissioner, author, lawyer, small business owner and distinguished lecturer at the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government

Political experience: Georgia's labor commissioner, 1999-present; director, Georgia Department of Family and Children Services, 1994-1997; unsuccessful candidate for Congress, 1992; member, Georgia House of Representatives, 1987-1992

Military experience: None

Civic experience: Member, Georgia Historical Society board of curators; member, Ebenezer Baptist Church West in Athens

Family status: Married to Zola, one daughter

Johnny Isakson

Age: 65

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Georgia, 1966

Profession: Businessman; formerly with Northside Realty for 33 years, including 20 years as president

Political experience: Member, U.S. Senate, 2005-present; member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1999-2005; served 17 years in the Georgia Legislature; served three years as chairman of the Georgia Board of Education