Obama Injects Himself Into Big Georgia Senate Race
Finally! Barack Obama is now personally getting involved in the high-stakes Georgia Senate runoff, where Democratic candidate Jim Martin has an outside shot of knocking off GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss and getting the Dems that much closer to 60 seats, with this new radio ad:
"I want to thank everybody who turned out and voted for me in November. Together we can get America moving again," Obama says. "But the elections aren't over. In Georgia, there's a runoff on Tuesday, December 2, and I want to urge you to turn out one more time and help elect Jim Martin to the United States Senate."
This runoff is effectively the same as a special election -- held apart from the usual major Election Day, and likely to have much lower turnout. As such, the candidates for the runoff have to accomplish two major tasks: Getting their voters enthusiastic to come out and vote again; and providing the necessary civics lesson to make sure they actually know when to come out. This ad from the new president-elect would seem to accomplish both chores.
Now all Obama has to do is personally campaign in the state.
I think that this is not actually a brilliant idea. If Obama puts a lot of time or visibility into the race, and Chambliss loses anyway, it tarnishes his big win. I would love to see Chambliss out on his ass, but I think Obama has to stay pretty far out of it.
November 21, 2008 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
if Chambliss *wins* anyway. *sigh* time for more coffee.
November 21, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Arugula,
Interesting point...and I agree your position is safer than what I am going to suggest.
A) I think Obama, who has sent a large field operation down to help Martin, is already spending political capital on this race.
B) Saxby is not a very nice guy. Leaving him alone is not going to build any favors with him. He is still going to attack Obama, and then go play golf. He barely accomplished anything as a member of the majority party for the first four years he was in, and nothing for the last two.
C) Obama is not going to win them all, but if he can help put Martin in, over the top, he gains another ally in the Senate.
D) Martin has run in the primary, the primary run off, the general, and now the general run off. People know him, and he is a solid, hard working candidate, siding with this man, win or lose, is what we need the President-Elect to do.
We have to avoid thinking like the Clintons- Stop fighting for Gays in the Military because we are going to lose, stop fighting on healt care because we are going to lose, stop fighting for Lanni G. because she is drawing heat.
We have to be willing to FIGHT, and LOSE sometimes. It shows the other side we are willing to fight, and that we are willing to consume their resources.
Two days before the run off election Obama should be all over Ga, asking people to turn out for Martin, and win or lose, he should stand by Martin's side and say "This man fights for the things I belive in, and I will never abandon him, win or lose."
November 21, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. And him campaigning in Georgia would multiply the danger 1,000-fold.
I don't think he has any chance of campaigning in Georgia anyway--there's just too much for him to do now.
November 21, 2008 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I doubt Obama needs to do much other than energize the base and roll out the the GOTV machine that is already oiled and just quietly waiting for the "word" to move.
There's a huge ground organization in neighborhoods that can reconstitute itself at a moment's notice. If we have it here, they have it there! Nothing like all those volunteers ready to act, already organized.
November 21, 2008 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he could just wave his wand and say, "wingnuttium leviosum!" ;D
November 21, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sure, why not? It's not as if he has anything else to to right now.
:-P
November 21, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, now that sos issue is put to bed by Greg et. al., Obama doesn't know what to do till Jan 20th except twiddle his fingers or... play hoops.
November 21, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't understand this 60's obesession with dems. I doubt the entire dem senators club is going jump thru' the hoops for Obama. Did you see Harry's encomiums filled love-fest to that convicted felon Ted's "public service" ?
A great moment of lesson to Obama supporters. Be prepared to be disappointed again and.. again by this gang of "60" or whatever.
November 21, 2008 10:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
When you compare the pictures of Saxby and Martin,,,, Saxby comes off like a rich, alcoholic, enemy of the people type antebellum planter. Martin looks like Southern white hard working clean living put upon everyman.
If played properly, that contrast in images,,,, and a lot of underlying reality, should give Martin an edge.
November 21, 2008 10:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is the new head of the party. He should get involved with the election of every Democrat. Just how much might be opened to question, but definitely he should push for his party. And I think I would disagree with you amk. I'll bet members of the Senate club will be more willilng to follow Obama, than they will Harry Reid.
November 21, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
I sure hope so but I am also sure you can understand my skepticism given their recent deplorable track record.
November 21, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you President-Elect Obama! I am a bit peeved at the 80,000 under votes in GA. IF a percentage of them had voted for Martin, we wouldn't have to be going through this.
November 21, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
OT, TPM Healine:
"A spokeswoman says that Attorney General Michael Mukasey is doing better and that he apparently fainted during a speech, with no signs of a stroke or heart problem."
This is ridiculous, and to reprint it is worse. If you know anything about TIA's and strokes, and after 'hearing' (and seeing) the video, it is obvious that is what happened. The treatment, if administered immediately, is very effective, but still, to buy this line is just sad.
November 21, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Amelie,
I completely agree. He did not just faint and making that statement is a plain lie.
It looked and sounded like a TIA from the start.
November 21, 2008 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Paul: Thanks, and very cute picture!!
November 21, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thirded! No way that was a faint. Of course the MSM has bought into the official announcement that it was. That was as obvious as a mini-stroke as it gets. Liars are detestable.
November 21, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's best strategy would be to personally fly under the radar as much as possible. Send surrogates (like the Clintons or Sen. Jim Webb), fund/staff/direct grassroots GOTV and keep from rousing racist white Georgia voters.
I worked for a Democratic candidate in SC whom we think was swamped by white backlash against Obama in the general election. The white voters in Georgia in Georgia are no different.
In the South, race trumps every other issue.
Obama needs to concentrate on getting the African-American vote in the urban centers turned out in record numbers. AND, Dems should try to discourage angry, threatened whites from showing up at the polls.
November 21, 2008 10:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, you have to be careful not to motivate the "Cracker" vote.
November 21, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Barack on the ticket didn't motivate them in October/November, so I don't see how worse it can be in the run-off. Are there are polls showing Martin substantially lagging Saxby Chambliss? The last I saw it was just 3% pts.
November 21, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
November 21, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Best way to keep the cracker vote off its feet,,,,, pass out two quart jars of quality shine,,,, or wacky weed for the more hip set. Of course, with this tactic timing is everything,,, but using two quart jars and some really good Maui wowie should do it.
This tactic has been used to some success in East Kentucky for years.
November 21, 2008 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama has been studying FDR so he'll know from FDR's blunders that injecting himself personally in a senatorial race courts disaster.
November 21, 2008 10:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Chambliss is vulnerable. The Dems (read Obama) should richly fund negative media highlighting Chambliss' dodging of Vietnam, poor legislative record, voting for the Wall Street bailout and tying him to the Bush Depression.
Martin would benefit far more from Obama media money and African-American grassroots organizing than any personal appearances.
Also, Georgia is literally dangerous country for Obama.
November 21, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I fully expect that shortly before the election, Obama will show up in Georgia to campaign with Martin. That's when it will do the most good.
November 21, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not a southerner so I may be off-base here. But I think Barack's involvement might have the opposite effect--instead of riling the reactionary white crowd, it might demoralize them. Hearing from the newly-elected black president might be just the sort of reminder of their movement's impotence that keeps them home. African-Americans and liberals who hear the message, on the other hand, are going to remember how good it felt to vote on Nov. 4, and will go out and do it again.
If the runoff is about creating an enthusiasm gap between democrats and republicans, it seems to me that this might do the trick.
November 21, 2008 10:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm pretty certain Obama isn't coming to Georgia. George Steph. on ABC reported he isn't coming and I've heard it from some other sources too. Apparently this radio ad is as deep as he's going to wade in.
Meanwhile the campaign is getting nasty. Chambliss is running a pretty vicious ad claiming Martin voted against dealers selling drugs near school, voted against stiffer punishment for pedophiles and, in a really bizarre move, is depicting Martin holding a "Women for Obama" sign and looking...well, I guess, effeminate.
As I've said before, I'd love it if Obama came down but I think it would be wise for him to stay away. Martin was always a weak candidate and not expected to even get this far. If the Dems could organize and put up a good candidate in 2010 we could know off Isaksson instead. I despise Chambliss and would love to see him go down. But I just don't see it this year.
November 21, 2008 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, as the head of the party it is Obama's duty to involve himself in this race.
Furthermore, how exactly would a Martin loss "tarnish" Obama's big win? That makes no sense at all.
November 21, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if the Martin campaign has asked Obama to stay away. Chambliss had been running ads connecting the democrats (Obama lost the state 52/47). The last thing Martin would want is Obama's arm around him in full support.
November 21, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama wants to be post-partisan, and if he started campaigning heavily for Martin that would only rile up the GOP more, and especially Chambliss, who's probably going to win regardless. Obama didn't campaign for many down ticket candidates at all during the GE - probably for this reason.
Maybe this is where Plouffe is "hiding", running a covert GOTV campaign.
November 21, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wish Obama would've done more for down ticket Dems, especially Franken, but I understand his reasoning for not doing it- as you pointed out. I can't complain with the result either- we won the Presidency! As a MN resident though--- ARGH!
November 21, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would rather see Sen. Lincoln, Webb and Bill Nelson campaigning in Georgia. That way it would keep it regional rather than national. In the old South that is the way to victory. Georgia, after all, is still a red State.
November 21, 2008 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
No Eric:
As I said before (from inside Atlanta):
It would be great if Jim Martin would campaign for Jim Martin.
That's what would be...
"great."
Let me anticipate the critique of Obama when/if Martin loses by saying as someone else has already said:
Martin is a weak candidate. He is a weak candidate even against a Chambliss who is also a weak candidate.
He really is.
And Georgia "literally dangerous" for Obama??
hmmmm....
November 21, 2008 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Has no one else noticed that almost all of Obama's public appearances since his election have been fleeting dashes from building to armored vehicle?
He's not THAT busy with transition meetings.
The racist backlash has been documented by several news sources: AP, Christian Science Monitor, and McClatchy Newspapers. Second graders chant "Assasinate Obama." A UTexas football player is suspended for racist text messages.
If you haven't been outside Atlanta or associated with many working class whites then you probably haven't heard the anger and fear.
Gun sales are skyrocketing. Some of the buyers think that the Dems will confiscate their weapons. And, some want to be armed in preparation for an anticipated race war "after Obama's assasination."
Yes, personally campaigning in Georgia would be dangerous for the President-elect.
November 21, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Obama should hold 4 or 5 rallies in key areas on election day , ending each one with a plea to go to your precinct and vote now.
P.S. why is the word "Obama" triggering the spell checker?
November 21, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink