Video: “It All Comes Down to Georgia”
posted at 7:00 pm on November 10, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Well, Georgia, Minnesota, and Alaska, as it turns out, but only the Peach State has to do another election to straighten out its Senate seat. Saxby Chambliss won a plurality last Tuesday, but Georgia state law requires 50% plus one vote to avoid a runoff between the top two finishers. The NRSC has all its attention on Chambliss, and has a new ad reminding voters of the stakes:
Obviously, both parties will focus all of their efforts here because neither has anything better to do at the moment, but the GOP has an edge here. First, Chambliss is the incumbent, and that helps. He also won the election, and the people that voted third party are not all going to vote for Martin. He doesn’t need many of them to put him over the top, if they all turn out to vote in the runoff.
And that’s the other advantage for Chambliss. They won’t get the same turnout. Those who voted for Obama already had their victory and celebrated it. Republicans will worry about the balance in the Senate a lot more than Democrats will want Chambliss replaced. If Republicans somehow forget, this ad will serve as a reminder to get out and vote in the runoff. I’d expect an easier time for Chambliss the second time around.
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And if the voters in Georgia don’t….
Well I guess they do really WANT B.O., and I won’t feel sorry for their future.
upinak on November 10, 2008 at 7:02 PM
Some democrats might not want the responsibility of a filibuster proof senate either.
thirteen28 on November 10, 2008 at 7:05 PM
What’s the latest in the Minnesota race. How many more ballots in the back seats of cars do they need?
bopbottle on November 10, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Living here in ATL, one would have to assume that the Dems won’t turn out like they did for Obambi.
But, that’s the problem.
HarryBalzac on November 10, 2008 at 7:09 PM
Any of You People in Georgia who sat out the election because McCain wasn’t your first choice in the Repbub primaries have a chance to redeem yourselves…………
Janos Hunyadi on November 10, 2008 at 7:10 PM
I am in GA… I think he’ll win… I don’t think the Dems will show… his best chance was to fly in Obama’s multi-colored coat ( no racial undertones, folks) during the Nov. 4th election. Conservatives here are scared as Hell!
beththebaker on November 10, 2008 at 7:11 PM
I think Coleman is up about 204
driver on November 10, 2008 at 7:11 PM
Are the liberal city folk talking about Martin?
Out in cow country, libs are quiet, conservatives stocking up on guns and liquor!
beththebaker on November 10, 2008 at 7:14 PM
I am here in Augusta GA and the Dems are lying their asses off about Saxby. In particular they are misrepresenting the fair tax stating that people will have to pay more for goods they buy if the fair tax is implemented. This of course is not true. What they are not saying that the fair tax takes away the income tax, fica and medicare. They also don’t tell you that the fair tax only applies to new goods and services. Check it out at http://www.fairtax.org . They are also trying to put the full blame on Saxby over the bailout but giving no credit to Dodd, Frank and the others involved with fanny and freddie.
mindhacker on November 10, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Assumption is the Mother of ALL screw ups!
upinak on November 10, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Maybe Putin will invade Georgia, and this is all academic.
keep the change on November 10, 2008 at 7:21 PM
Honestly, I will again hold my nose and vote for Saxby, he and Isaacson are not great, but it beats Martin. We get a lot of effective radio ads for Saxby..
beththebaker on November 10, 2008 at 7:21 PM
Martin has zero chance. If the black turnout wasn’t enough for Obama in GA it certainly won’t be enough for Martin. After 2002 the people of GA spoke, they like someone who calls an injured veteran a coward and compares him to Osama Bin Laden. I say more power to them.
Also you folks are just foolish if you think Obama actually needs a 60 vote senate. Olympia Snowe is up for re-election. Her state overwhelmingly went for Obama, she will not be voting for any filibusters. The dems have Joe Lieberman by the short hairs, if he steps out of line ONCE he’s going to lose his chairmanship, don’t expect him to support any filibusters either. There are more than enough moderate Republicans from DEEP blue states that any number of them can be plucked. All it takes is Obama in their state asking people “why isn’t your Senator voting for healthcare?” “Why isn’t your Senator voting for renewable energy?” “Why isn’t your Senator voting to withdraw people from Iraq?”
But do waste tons of RNC money in Georgia, it will be cute.
DeathToMediaHacks on November 10, 2008 at 7:23 PM
I live in Ga. and have written Sen. Chambliss on numerous occasions about many issues. If you think Mcain was a jerk you need to meet Saxby! I will vote for the warm pile, but will be holding my nose the whole time. Why is this becoming the norm for Repub. voters? Can’t we get some courageous people to run who don’t think of it as a get rich quick scheme? If ever there was a need for a third party its now!
inspectorudy on November 10, 2008 at 7:25 PM
Like that idiot McCain all Saxby had to do to sail to victory was vote against, and be very vocal against Bozo Bush and Barney’s berry berry bad bailout. I will again hold my nose and vote for him. A lot of credit is owed to Neal Boortz who talked a lot like me from voting for the Libertarian. But a lot of anti-bailout Republicans did and now we have this runoff to pollute our airwaves.
bill30097 on November 10, 2008 at 7:27 PM
Mindhacker is correct. I’m in the Metro Atlanta area of Georgia and Saxby has had to battle misleading ads (what a surprise) from his opponent throughout his re-election bid.
I do believe however, that Chambliss should win this run-off without any problem and have a clear victory from Georgia voters. Martin is a weenie with a record that can be used to show his weaknesses. He only came as close as he did due to the Obama hoopla and riding his coattails in the first place otherwise he wouldn’t have even been a blip on the radar.
All in all, I prefer the run-off way of deciding this race once and for all rather than the circus that is going to occur around the Franken mess in Minnesota and all the “mis-placed” ballot boxes that are bound to surface there.
SassyDarlin on November 10, 2008 at 7:28 PM
Someone please ban this asswipe troll. Saxby ran against a real jackass who forgot the people he was supposed to represent. Obama is still Marxist scum.
bill30097 on November 10, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Didn’t Saxby run against that amputee guy? Kos and friends have a seething hatred for that guy unlike anyone else in washington, bar maybe bush himself, so dont rest.
ernesto on November 10, 2008 at 7:31 PM
All Jim Martin has to say is ” wealth redistribution for Democrats” and he will win!
grapeknutz on November 10, 2008 at 7:32 PM
Don’t worry…………. they will keep counting, and counting, and counting, and counting, and counting until the Democrat wins.
Seven Percent Solution on November 10, 2008 at 7:32 PM
Yes.
beththebaker on November 10, 2008 at 7:33 PM
Not here.. we stayed red… didn’t work out for the One.
beththebaker on November 10, 2008 at 7:34 PM
Red October.
Dee2008 on November 10, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Guys, don’t be overconfident. We had a similar situation in ‘92 when the incumbent (Wyche Fowler) narrowly missed the 50% barrier & the underdog (Paul Coverdell) was able to rally the troops and pull off an upset win for the Republican in the special election.
And, before anyone brings up the “red state” thing, in ‘92 Georgia went for Clinton, had two sitting Democratic senators (Nunn, Fowler), a Democratic governor, a Democratic state house and a Democratic senate.
Don’t think a few visits from the Messiah won’t be a boon to the John Lewis/Cynthia Mckinney/Sanford Bishop voting bloc. Besides, Saxby hasn’t exactly endeared himself to the base (bailout vote).
There is work to do.
Please ban the lying moron. Nothing constructive will result from the presence of such scum. If I want that tripe I can go to huffpo.
rjwest21 on November 10, 2008 at 7:42 PM
Dems can win only when they lie. Yes, we’ll get millions of $$ of ads soon misrepresenting the Fair Tax and everything else here in Georgia, but I think Saxby will pull it out easily.
woohoo on November 10, 2008 at 7:42 PM
Wishful thinking.
Rode Werk on November 10, 2008 at 7:42 PM
deploy the Cuda to Georgia
joey24007 on November 10, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Saxby will ultimately will the run-off, but he will do so without my vote. I have corresponded with my ’senator’ as well, and like the earlier comment stated, Saxby is quite an arrogant jerk to put it mildly. It’s time for him to find a different profession. Besides, being Bush’s lackey doesn’t get him as far as it used to now that the economy is stinking like it is and Saxby has signed on to the huge run up in federal spending every step of the way.
gatorboy on November 10, 2008 at 8:09 PM
You expect Saxby to have an easy time of it! ARE YOU KIDDING!
Wait until the OBAMA Express gets rolling on this one. Commercials featuring the Chosen One will be running non-stop supporting the Democratic Candidate and extolling how Himself needs the “Your VOTE Once Again” and you had better turn out if you want your government cheese.
This will be the first test of his machine since getting elected and much will be learned about it’s long term effectiveness to mobilize the masses.
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on November 10, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Media Hack,
STFU bitch, and make me a sammich.
I agree Chambliss has a good chance. And for those who want to cut off their noses to spite their faces, be careful what you ask for.
Sekhmet on November 10, 2008 at 8:17 PM
A very large number of people voting for the third party were protest votes reminding Saxby who he is supposed to be working for. They are conservatives who didn’t like the fact that Saxby went off to Washington and forgot he was wokring for the people of Georgis not the Washington insiders. Most of these people will probably either vote for Saxby or just stay home during the run off. I don’t see Martin picking up any sizable percentage amount of thr third party votes. Unless too many disgusted Republicans stay home Saxby should win.
Buford on November 10, 2008 at 8:17 PM
My blog was just shut down by Google…
http://barackwatch.blogspot.com/
So much for freedom of speech.
HarryBalzac on November 10, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Harry – That’ll teach you to criticize The One…
woohoo on November 10, 2008 at 8:26 PM
The house cleaning of the GOP needs to start somewhere and Saxby is as good a place to start as any and will also send a message since the GOP still doesn’t get it.
Saxby has 3 strikes against him.
1. Crafted the Amnesty legislation
2. Part of the Gang of whatever on the Energy bill
3. Voted for the bailout
Those are the big three but if you want to find a Republican who has reached across the aisle more then John McCain this is probably a good spot to look.
He is in this shape because conservatives in GA won’t vote for him. Republicans will, conservatives won’t.
Just A Grunt on November 10, 2008 at 8:30 PM
Georgia On My Mind
This is one we can win.
Mojave Mark on November 10, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Not to worry, I’m sure “that one” will send ACORN to rescue the oppressed of Georgia.
Zorro on November 10, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Palin, Mitt and Huck may campaign for Saxby. (Source is HuffPo, though.)
Wethal on November 10, 2008 at 8:37 PM
This last election was comeuppance enough for Chambliss. It is the same principle at work here as the GE: you know what the other side wants to do, even if they lie. The Dems have had an easy time with Bush, and they know it. It was a symbiotic relationship – one let him do as he pleased as long as he spent money and gave them more reasons to stay in power. “It’s Bush’s fault” has worked well for the Dems, and Bush went along with it.
Think about what a filibuster-proof Senate means, though. Chambliss is still an R, and maybe a brush with death changed his worldview.
chunderroad on November 10, 2008 at 9:03 PM
You underestimate how much the libtards hate this guy. They are still outraged he beat Cleland.
Speedwagon82 on November 10, 2008 at 9:22 PM
False.
Buy Danish on November 10, 2008 at 9:51 PM
True … at least in my case.
FRNM on November 10, 2008 at 10:03 PM
I voted for Chambliss…and McCain.
DavidM on November 10, 2008 at 10:37 PM
Chambliss has a pretty high rating among conservative vote rating groups. But if conservatives turn on him, great! Just keep self destructing. Dems never did this during their opposition. Their opposition was weak and ineffectual, but it failed as a whole, not individually.
DeathToMediaHacks on November 10, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Stay tough Crackers!As a southern brother from Alabama (Mobile)Ya’ll need to do the right thing!! Make Jefferson Davis and the rest of us rebs proud! Save your Confederate Money cuz the
GlocknRoll on November 10, 2008 at 11:50 PM
South will rise again!
GlocknRoll on November 10, 2008 at 11:51 PM
I hate Saxby Chambliss.
And I will work to get him re-elected AGAIN.
Thanks for all the crappy candidates, RNC.
Elizabetty on November 10, 2008 at 11:55 PM
My blog was just shut down by Google…
http://barackwatch.blogspot.com/
So much for freedom of speech.
HarryBalzac on November 10, 2008 at 8:20 P
Mine did too. The other day. Your note made me check it. Not still there. I haven’t had time to say things on it yet. At least I have my forum still.
sheebe on November 11, 2008 at 12:04 AM
What has Neal Boortz had to say about this? He is at the supposed Ground Zero of this in Atlanta.
BobAnthony on November 11, 2008 at 7:27 AM
I’ll hold my nose and vote for Saxby. He has done an outstanding job at pissing of the conservative base here in GA……much like Maverick. We don’t have a choice but to go with him and hope he has gotten the wake up call to start representing his state again.
David in ATL on November 11, 2008 at 8:50 AM
I’ll be holding my nose too on December 2nd. Chambliss should not take this win as a confirmation that “the people” agree with him. If there had been another Republican/conservative, he would have been voted out.
Expect a very light turnout.
moonsbreath on November 11, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Let’s see…
In VA McCain had a sizable lead until they started counting NoVa counties. He lost.
In MN Coleman had a sizable lead until the started counting MSP counties. He will lose.
In GA, Saxby had a very large lead until the started counting Dekalb County (inner city Atlanta). Saxby lost (went below 50%).
In each case the pattern was the same. Count the rural votes first. Then see how many urban votes are needed. Then make sure there are enough votes there.
Georgia will go blue in the run-off…and it will be a squeaker with 2000 votes found in the car of a poll worker.
angryed on November 11, 2008 at 10:09 AM
We’re all Georgians now.
I think I’ve heard that before.
wink on November 11, 2008 at 2:21 PM
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