Chambliss says 100 Democrats have endorsed him
August 29, 2008 at 11:06 pm by Thomas Wheatley in News(Scene: U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Jim Martin’s Atlanta residence. Martin is enjoying the most recent issue of Adbusters, relaxing with a pipe and a tumbler of Fanta. There is a knock at the door.)
Martin: Who goes there?
(Voice outside): It’s the Sax-man.
(Martin stands up, walks to the door. U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss enters before Martin can let him in.)
Chambliss: Hey, buddy. Wanted to come by and let you know I’ve been endorsed by 100 Democrats in Georgia. Mostly county commissioners in a lot of rural areas of the state, spots that don’t have the Internet so they can’t read about this or this. Some sheriffs, too. They’ve called themselves “Democrats for Saxby.” Oh, and Zell’s one of them.
Martin: Miller?
Chambliss: Yeah, Zell Miller. I got him to write me a letter and stuff.
Martin (confused): Well, OK. (looks around) Would you like some Fanta or something?
Chambliss: No thanks. Stuff tastes like piss. I’m going to go and raise some money. What are you up to?
Martin: Eh, just watchin’ the convention.
Chambliss: Well, have fun.
(End scene)
That’s what runs through my head when I receive press releases like the following from the Chambliss campaign.
(Nelson Muntz courtesy of TrashMenagerie)
ATLANTA—U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia) today announced that he has been endorsed by over 100 Georgia Democrats for re-election to the United States Senate. Democrats for Saxby includes 54 County Commissioners, 30 Sheriffs, 13 city officials and former Georgia Governor and United States Senator Zell Miller.
In a letter dated July 17, 2008, Miller said, “He [Saxby] is needed in Washington more than ever before. When I had the honor of serving with him in the U.S. Senate, I saw first hand his integrity, hard work and the high esteem his fellow Senators had for him. We are very fortunate he is running again and I urge you to help him.”
Pretty bold move on the part of Chambliss, the well-funded incumbent whom Martin hopes to unseat come November. If this wasn’t a shot across the bow, a clear message of “people-in-the-areas-you-need-to-win-are-endorsing-me,” then I don’t know what is. Also, this is clearly an attempt to throw dirt on Martin’s claim that Chambliss is just a rubber stamp for the Bush administration’s failed policy decisions. After all, if Democrats support Chambliss, a Republican, then he must be the man for the job! Right?
Martin has advanced in recent polls and now trails six percentage points behind Chambliss. It doesn’t appear that the incumbent’s announcement caused the former state lawmaker to flinch.
“On Super Tuesday, Democrats outnumbered Republicans at the ballot box in Georgia by 97,310,” said Kate Hansen, a Martin spokesperson. “With yesterday’s announcement from the Chambliss campaign, it looks like Saxby’s only got 97,210 Democrats to go to even things up.”
(Note: The press release Chambliss’ campaign distributed only mentions three of the 100 Democrats — Thomas County Board of Commissioners Chairman Josh Herring, Berrien County Commissioner Elna Bragdon, and Miller. I’ve asked the campaign for a full list of the 100 Democrats. To read Chambliss’ full release, click here.)
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