Fresh Loaf

Yesterday morning, The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder published an excellent post about the significance of Saxby Chambliss’s re-election on Tuesday.

Two key points:

“Habitual voters tend to vote in special elections; in Georgia, there are more Republican habitual voters than Democratic habitual voters; the minds of Republican habitual voters were no doubt focused on Chambliss’s sudden cameo as the bullwark [sic] against an overweening Democratic majority. But these habitual voters are an ideologically charged subset of the electorate. On November 4, 3.7 million Georgians voted. Yesterday, about 2.1 million Georgians did.”

[...]

“The Obama political team chose to stay out of Georgia for the most part, and they did so for several reasons, not the least of which was their desire to send a message that mere politics isn’t what’s important right now. Also, candidly, some Obama advisers didn’t think Martin had a chance to win, and they didn’t want to expose Obama to a losing campaign.”

Obviously winning is better than losing, but Ambinder’s post makes clear that Republican attempts to spin Saxby’s win as a large-scale repudiation of Obama are just silly.

While we’re on the subject of Tuesday’s run-off, be sure to check out Erick Erickson’s passionate filleting of Saxby and his campaign at Peach Pundit.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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Hindsight’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)

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The Associated Press says Saxby Chambliss has convinced voters to send him back to Washington, D.C. for six more years.

Six. More. Years.

Saxby supporters election night November 4

(Photo By Joeff Davis)

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Subscription-based news service Insider Advantage has time traveled back to the present after a heady trip to tomorrowland. Upon exiting its gullwinged timemachine, the site called the U.S. Senate race for incumbent Saxby Chambliss.

Note the time:

BULLETIN

6:30 p.m.

(12/2/08) Based on our early evaluation of turnout in the Georgia runoff, it appears Republicans have successfully defended Saxby Chambliss’ U.S. Senate seat against Democrat Jim Martin. The four-week campaign focused national attention on the Peach State and brought John McCain, Sarah Palin, Bill Clinton and Al Gore to the state to help their parties’ respective candidates drive up turnout. Barack Obama cut an ad and a robo-call tape for Martin but didn’t risk his prestige on the race through a personal appearance.

As I write this, both the U.S. Senate and Public Service Commission races show Republicans leading 60-40. Results from Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton Counties are just now rolling in.

(DeLorean photo from Newsgroper)

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Depending on how these races turnout, they could either be celebrations or a wake. Roll the dice and decide which you’d like to attend.

• U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss and most of the state’s Republican usual suspects will hold court at the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead, the same place the incumbent Republican partied at on Nov. 4. Cash bar and what looked like good food were at that shindig. Believe it or not, there was hummus. The public’s invited and doors open at 7 p.m.

• The Democrats, including Chambliss’ Democratic opponent Jim Martin and Georgia Public Service Commission candidate Jim Powell, will be at Park Tavern. Doors open at 7 p.m. and it’s also open to the public.

• Manuel’s will undoubtedly be serving beer and wings. If this turns out to be the night Republicans Strike Back, you’ll want to be among friends.

If you know of any others, leave ‘em in the comments.

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If he’s going to win the run-off, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Jim Martin needs to convince Obama enthusiasts who voted for him on November 4 to return to the polls again today.

To reach out to those Obama supporters, many of whom are young and black, Martin held a pep rally yesterday featuring a handful of big-name hip-hop stars.

Among them was rapper T.I.

T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, Jr., is a very popular entertainer.

He’s also a serial felon.

In March, he pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges. He will begin a prison sentence next year.

At the moment, he’s performing 1,000 hours of court-ordered “community service” — which thus far appears to consist of promoting nasty tequila-and-champagne hangovers, and giving speeches in front of high school students and AJC photographers.

By courting the endorsement of a not-especially repentant felon, Martin is signaling profound indifference to the law — a rather puzzling signal to be sending when you’re vying for a seat in the country’s highest lawmaking body.

Even worse is the insulting message Harris’ appearance with Martin sends to Obama supporters.

“Hey, black people! T.I. likes me! You should, too!”

Puke.

T.I. AT JIM MARTIN RALLY: "Patrón on ice, comprehensive health care reform, you can have whatever you like." (Photo by Joeff Davis)

See more photos of last night’s Jim Martin rally with T.I. here

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Did I mention that already? In Decatur, where I voted an hour ago, there were no lines; poll workers said people had been filing in all morning long.

The obvious big contests are Georgia’s U.S. Senate seat, Georgia Public Service Commission District 4 and the state Court of Appeals. There are several county elections still undecided, as well.

To find out where you need to go to vote, visit Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel’s poll locator. Don’t forget to bring photo ID. If you have any questions, contact your county’s election office. Polls close at 7 p.m.

After today — unless we have a recount — all this will be over. We’ll come out holding hands and happy.

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VOTERS IN DIFF'RENT AREA CODES Democratic nominee Jim Martin, supported by T.I., Young Jeezy and Ludacris (not pictured), on Monday night at the Gold Dome.

Let it be stated: You will never again see Jim Martin walk out to bodyshaking bass and shake hands with three hip-hop stars. Absurd moments like these only happen on the eve of a runoff where a Democrat-controlled Senate is at stake.

On Monday night in front of the Capitol, standing at a podium underneath a statue of one of Georgia’s most perplexing racists, the U.S. Senate Democratic nominee addressed a bundled-up crowd of nearly 1,000 people that braved the cold to see Ludacris, T.I. and Young Jeezy. (Martin admitted as much.)

But Democrats hope those supporters will return to the polls on Tuesday to vote for the Party’s candidates — and tell their friends and families to do the same.

Flanked on stage by more than 30 city, state and federal Democratic notables, Martin repeated the phrase he’s used to describe his role if voters send him to Washington — to be a “bridge” to Pres.-elect Barack Obama’s initiatives, not a “firewall,” as Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss has branded himself.

“You did the right thing,” Congressman John Lewis told the crowd. “You did it. And we must do it again… I’ve served in Congress for a little while. Saxby is not our friend. I tell you, he’s not our friend. If you really want to help Barack Obama, let’s do it.”

(more…)

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Remember this Thanksgiving  video of U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss? Well, someone’s focused on the more, uhm, confusing part.

(Hat tip to Buzzfeed)

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This has been a grueling election cycle. Not only have we been burdened with the impossible task of writing about abstract things like “hope,” “change” and “drilling for oil,” we’ve had to slog through an extra four weeks of attack ads and endorsements long after the rest of the country (except for Minnesota!) had declared their winners.

But the candidates ask you to please — please — return to the polls tomorrow, Dec. 2.

If you didn’t vote on Nov. 4 — or during early voting — you can still vote in the runoff. To find out where to cast your ballot, visit the Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel’s poll locator. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close to 7 p.m. And be sure to bring one of the six following forms of identification:

• Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a FREE Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS)

• A Georgia Driver’s License, even if expired

• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state

• Valid U.S. passport ID

• Valid U.S. military photo ID

• Valid tribal photo ID

Enjoy! Let us know if there are any shenanigans.

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Six years ago, Saxby Chambliss authorized the most vilified political campaign ad of the past decade, one that questioned the courage of then-Sen Max Cleland — a triple-amputee Vietnam War veteran — by showing pictures of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.

Well, prepare for deja vu. Last week, a new attack ad debuted on local TV channels, this one aimed at Chambliss’ runoff opponent, Jim Martin, and incoming president Barack Obama. This time, instead of using the magic of video to link the Democrats to bin Laden, they’ve chosen Mohamed Atta, leader of the 9/11 hijackings, to serve as the bogeyman.

On the left is Atta’s familiar FBI mug shot, taken from his Florida driver’s license photo:

… and on the right is a screenshot from about 10 seconds into the new anti-Martin ad; Atta’s mug shot is top center:

(more…)

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From Andre at Georgia Politics Unfiltered:

Georgia Politics Unfiltered has confirmed with state Democratic Party officials that the director of the Illinois Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Tammy Duckworth, will campaign with Jim Martin throughout the day Monday including stops in Atlanta and Macon.

Duckworth is a veteran of the Iraq war where she suffered severe wounds that cost her both legs along with damage to her right arm. In 2006, Duckworth was a candidate for Congress from Illinois’ sixth district. She continues to serve as a Major in the Illinois Army National Guard.

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Today’s the last chance for Georgia’s U.S. Senate candidates to campaign, and they’re both playing to the base.

Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss hosted Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin last night at a private fundraiser at the W Hotel in Midtown; today she’ll stump for the candidate in Augusta, Savannah and Perry before finishing the day at the Gwinnett Arena at 4 p.m.

Democratic candidate Jim Martin is scheduled to receive well wishes from rapper Ludacris and U.S. Congressman John Lewis today at a rally in front of the Capitol at 5:30 p.m.

Martin, whom many political pundits said needed a visit from Pres.-elect Barack Obama to rouse voters back to the polls against Chambliss, is trying to energize turnout among African-American voters. That demographic turned out in record numbers for the Nov. 4 General Election, but statistics for early voting in the runoff election show fewer numbers are returning to the polls. Obama did lend his voice to robocalls and a radio ad for Martin, it looks like he won’t be stopping in the Peach State to rally for the former state lawmaker.

And before I forget. Matt Zencey, the editorial page editor for the Anchorage Daily News, has some kind words for Palin as she makes her way across our gee-golly-this-place-is-neat-ya-know state.

Gov. Palin’s eldest joined the Army and has been deployed to Iraq. As a justifiably proud military mom, she might ask herself why she is using her conservative star power to support such a reprehensible Republican chicken hawk.

OK then! We’ll have info later in the day about voting tomorrow as well as the usual list of who’s partying where. If you attend any of these rallies — I’ll most likely try to get some face time with America’s sweetheart — feel free to send in photos.

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I’ll let them say it:

Is it just me, or has our state’s senior Senator been going to a tanning bed? On my computer it looks like he’s got a goggles tan.

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If the idea of listening to a redheaded journalist on Thanksgiving Eve sounds appealing, you’re in luck.

I’ll be on 1420 AM at 6:05 p.m. tonight — and until God knows when — to talk about Georgia’s U.S. Senate runoff between incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democratic candidate Jim Martin. Also up for discussion will be my most recent piece about the race.

If you want to participate, call (404) 292-1420.

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Number of Georgia runoff elections for statewide, partisan positions in the past 20 years: 2

Of those two, the number in which the top general-election vote-getter (a Democrat, in both instances) won the runoff: 0

Of voters in the 1992 general election, the percentage that returned to vote in the Senate runoff: 55

Of voters in the 2006 general election, the percentage that returned to vote in the Public Service Commission runoff: 10

As of Nov. 20, the percentage of early voters in Georgia’s U.S. Senate runoff who are African-American: 22

Percentage of early voters in the 2008 general election who are African-American: 34

In past decade, average percentage of black general-election voters who voted in runoffs: 8.5

Average percentage of whites who did: 9.2

Percentage of early voters in the 2008 general election who had voted in the GOP and Democratic primaries, respectively: 25, 30

Percentage of early voters in 2008 runoff (as of Nov. 20) who had voted in the GOP and Democratic primaries, respectively: 44, 34

Source: Georgia Secretary of State

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Georgia Public Service Commission Democratic candidate Jim Powell — who faces Republican Lauren “Bubba” McDonald in the Dec. 2 runoff — has a new online-only ad up on YouTube. (If YouTube ain’t your thang, Grift has it on Vimeo.)

Gotta love the floating “Bubba” heads coming out of smokestacks.

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Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will rally for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss on Monday, Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. From the Chambliss campaign:

4:00 PM
METRO ATLANTA
Gwinnett Arena
6400 Sugarloaf Parkway
Duluth, GA 30097

Doors will open one hour before each program begins. The events are FREE for the general public but in order to attend, you must RSVP at www.procatalog.com/saxby or by visiting the ‘Action Center’ at www.saxby.org

For her full Georgia itinerary, click after the jump.

John McCain and Sarah Palin at the 2008 Republican National Convention. (Photo by Joeff Davis)

(more…)

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Sorry for the back-to-back videos, folks, but this one just arrived via e-mail.

In this ad titled “Go to Work,” U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Jim Martin responds to incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss’ claims that the former state lawmaker voted for the largest tax increases in Georgia’s history while he served in the state Legislature. Martin says he actually voted for tax cuts to Georgians. The ad’s running statewide.

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It’s finally on Youtube, but hurry quick before it gets pulled. On last weekend’s Saturday Night Live, Zell Miller — the former Georgia governor and U.S. Senator who’s all about the gunplay — was played by Will Forte.

In the clip, Miller gave the real reason he endorsed incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss in his U.S. Senate race against Democratic candidate Jim Martin — names.

Elect Goolsby Scroggins!

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Oh, man, this is gonna be rich.

Sarah Palin — governor of Alaska, John McCain’s former running mate, aerial wolf hunter — is coming to Georgia on Monday to stump for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss in his Dec. 2 runoff race against Democratic candidate Jim Martin.

Jim Tharpe with the details:

Palin, who drew large crowds while running for vice president with Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John McCain, will appear at Chambliss rallies in Augusta, Savannah, Perry and Atlanta on Monday, the day before the Dec. 2 senate runoff between Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin.

Sarah Palin speaking at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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Former President Jimmy Carter yesterday endorsed Democrat Jim Powell in his Georgia Public Service Commission runoff against Republican candidate Lauren “Bubba” McDonald.

“I am impressed with Jim Powell’s knowledge of the issues that will be addressed by the Georgia Public Service Commission in the coming years,” President Carter said. “His vision of energy policy for our state reflects the forward-thinking approach we need, both in the near future and in the long term.

“With Jim Powell, the people of Georgia have a unique opportunity to elect a Public Service Commissioner with solid professional experience for this important position. I support Jim Powell in the December 2 runoff election.”

President Carter made the endorsement following a meeting with the candidate Thursday afternoon at the Carter Center.

“I am most honored to have the support of this great Georgian and American, President Jimmy Carter,” Powell said. “During his term in the White House, President Carter foresaw the importance of managing our energy resources and established the U.S. Department of Energy. He understands what is at stake in this election, and I am humbled that he would endorse my candidacy.”

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It’s not a visit from Pres.-elect Barack Obama to help U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Jim Martin, but it’s something. Below, listen to the ad that’ll brainwash every single Georgian over the age of 18 to visit the polls on Dec. 2 and vote for Martin in his runoff against incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss.

It might now be safe to say the Peach State won’t be getting a visit before the runoff. The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza interviewed several anonymous Democratic operatives who say that a visit to Georgia may just not be worth the political risk.

I know, I know. I too am feeling a little…I don’t know…empty. But we’ll carry on, my fellow Atlantans. Be strong. Take comfort in this photo of a kitten.

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Jim Galloway reports:

Neither Democrat Jim Martin nor Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss would commit — each citing scheduling conflicts. Martin pointed to a visit from former Vice President Al Gore, and the Chambliss campaign said it had a fund-raiser on its calendar.

Press club debates involving two other runoffs, for Public Service Commission and the state Court of Appeals, will be held Sunday

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Braving bitter cold and gushing crowds, former President Bill Clinton stumped for U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Jim Martin Wednesday night at Clark Atlanta University and urged the former state lawmaker’s supporters to return to the polls in the Dec. 2 runoff.

(Photos by Joeff Davis)

View the rest of CL’s Sideshow.

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