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Martin Adviser: No, Obama Should Not Come To Georgia
A new wrinkle in the Obama-to-Georgia saga: A high-profile adviser to Dem candidate Jim Martin now says that Barack Obama shouldn't come to the state to campaign for Martin in the high-stakes Senate runoff against GOP incumbent Saxby Chambliss.
Here's what the adviser, Donna Brazile, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
"No. I think President-elect Obama is doing what he must do and what he needs to do -- it's to focus on his transition. He has 56 days. He has many challenges."While I know and understand and appreciate the desire to see President-elect Obama down in Georgia, I think strategically, he should focus on the transition."
As noted here the other day, Martin advisers say Obama's team privately assures them that he hasn't made a final decision on whether to come to the state or not. This from Brazile, however, suggests that the Martin team may realize it's probably not gonna happen.
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Donna Brazile is not just another Martin adviser. She's well Donna Brazile. I think it's more to do with her being Donna Brazile and less to do with being Martin adviser.
But I agree with Ms.Brazile.
November 26, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
yeah, true, I still think it's hard to imagine that she'd say that unless the Martin team had concluded that it was unlikely to happen...
November 26, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
May be you're right Greg.
But on a different note I don't think I said "Donna Brazile" so many times in a single comment before. Kibda sounds "Sienfeld silly" when I read it again.
November 26, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe "Donna Brazille" is like "salsa."
November 26, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
November 26, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Howard Dean was saying pretty much exactly the same thing on Countdown last night. There is a mix of the politics (Obama getting caught up in a race that will probably go to the Repub) and the reality of the state of the country (Americans want Obama focused on the overall economic crisis). In the end, not going to Georgia will little if no impact on the general perception of Obama. So if there is little or nothing to lose by not going, it would seem unlikely that Obama would do so.
November 26, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's clear there's very little upside to Obama meddling in that race. There's the slim chance that Martin wins and Obama looks like a fair weather friend (where were you when I needed you quoth Martin), but there's the very real probability Martin loses and if Obama gets involved he looks impotent.
Easy call!
November 26, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is Georgia, after all. Perhaps a Bubba-type senior politician would have more sway down there.
November 26, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup. Can we say "Bill Clinton."
November 26, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you, Ms Brazile!! A voice of reason.
November 26, 2008 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Finally, common sense is prevailing. Obama should put is whole attention on the economy, the time for campaign trail is over in my book, it is time to solve the country's problem.
Campaigning, for Martin, will only bring out the wing nuts that are looking for anything to lash on. I'll argue that if Obama can have a positive effect on the economy, in the next few days, Georgia people will give Martin benefit of doubt.
November 26, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am sure Eric' head must be exploding now what with Brazille, Dean et. al. agreeing with this sane strategy.
November 26, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm inclined to agree with Brazile - and it hasn't one thing to do with politics. I just think the President Elect is too busy to stop and go campaign for someone - anyone.
November 26, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
True, especially campaigning for someone who is likely to lose. Too much to do.
November 26, 2008 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
The President Elect is already presidentin'.
Obama certainly understands how very badly Americans want Bush out and how desperately we need some leadership.
I still can't believe we got this lucky = that someone this spectacular rose up out of the pack and we actually put him in office.
November 26, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
I understand how you feel. The guy, Obama, has already had net positive effect on my 401K. My 401k went up by 15% since Obama started the press conference 3 days ago
November 26, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I would not automatically assume they actually want Obama down there. If that were the case, these are the kinds of noises you would expect them to be making.
McCain did carry Georgia by 5 points and you have to figure that for Martin to win the run-off, he needs a lot of Republicans party regulars to find better things to do than vote on election day. They could be counting on the fact that Democrats are already pretty pumped up in general this year, and thinking that giving hard core conservatives -- who already seem eager to make the run-off race about Barack Obama -- the lightening rod of a personal visit by the president-elect to rally around, might just do more harm than good.
November 26, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink