Could Vernon have beat Chambliss for U.S. Senate?
December 3, 2008 at 11:07 am by Thomas Wheatley in NewsHindsight’s 20/20 and all that, but here’s a thought.
Even with all his faults, could DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones — who lost to Martin in the Democratic primary — have beaten Saxby Chambliss in a runoff?
Vernon Jones and admirers earlier this year at Manuel's Tavern
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:39 am
I think not.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I think Vernon would have enjoyed more of Obama’s coattails than Martin. However, on Nov 4. Saxby led Martin by 109,671. Martin underperformed Obama by 86,718, which if Vernon had received every one of those votes are still not enough.
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Jones has more baggage the Chambliss campaign could’ve brought to light in debates and ads. I don’t know if that would’ve convinced voters caught up in the Obama rush. I still think it would’ve been interesting. Fun to cover, at least. I wouldn’t trade trusted representation for that, however.
Any idea how many Libertarians voted or sat this one out? Pinging Jason Pye.
December 3rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I think so. Whether you like Vern or not his record stands for itself…Dekalb is doing better than most. I think he would have gave Saxby a run for his money…Vernon knows how to campaign in a statewide race Jim Martin didn’t
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Holy cow. Is there anyone who can’t imagine what the negative ads would’ve been had Vernon Jones been the candidate?
The short answer to your question is there would’ve been no run off. Democrats who did not like Vernon, REALLY did not like Vernon. Many would’ve just skipped the race. You would’ve had greater drop-off, not less. Plus, he had so much baggage that his presence on the general election ballot would have potentially hurt other down ballot races.
And, you can count me among those who could not care less what Vernon has to say at a press conference this afternoon. Poor timing, wrong messanger.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:20 am
To Ann Kimb…er…Dekalb 28,
“Dekalb is doing better than most.”
Most what? Third-world shitholes?
“Vernon knows how to campaign in a statewide race Jim Martin didn’t”
And you base this assertion on what exactly? How Vern managed to lose to Jim in the ’statewide’ Dem primary? Or how Vern even managed to lose to Jim in DeKalb in the primary runoff?
December 5th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Over here @ ElectionDissection.com come, we have considered this question,
and think it plausible; Jones’ personality & “baggage” being crucial intangibles, though.
http://electiondissection.blogspot.com/2008/12/georgia-sen-runoff-could-it-have-been.html