Fresh Loaf

(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)

(more…)

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A couple weeks ago, WSB-TV reporter-turned-Senate candidate Dale Cardwell told us he’s “running for second place” in the July 15 primary to earn a place in a Democratic runoff election with presumed front-runner Vernon Jones.

This morning, Cardwell sent out a release saying that, as of now, he’s there. He cites a report by his old station that, in turn, quotes a Strategic Vision poll indicating that Cardwell is at 22 percent, hanging just behind Jones, with 25 percent. The well-funded Jim Martin trails with 17 percent, barely edging newcomer Rand Knight with 14 percent. Former congressional staffer Josh Lanier brings up the rear of the pack with a mere 6 percent. The poll shows 16 percent undecided.

Poll results were based on telephone interviews conducted June 27-29 with 800 likely voters in Georgia, says Strategic Vision.

Cardwell was also excited about results that showed he was polling strongest against GOP incumbent Saxby Chambliss, albeit by a razor-thin margin. According to the poll, Cardwell would take 29 percent of the vote against Chambliss, vs. 28 percent for Martin and Knight and 27 percent for Jones.

Of course, a poll showing you lagging by a nearly 2-to-1 margin is only good news if you assume that public opinion can change considerably before the election as candidates get their message out to voters. This happens to be a safe assumption and it’s also true right now, nearly two weeks out from the primary, as the candidates launch their final push for votes.

The X-factor here is, how much ammunition do candidates have left and how much will it matter? Martin is planning a full-scale campaign assault on TV and radio, a maneuver that only Jones could hope to match. Will that be enough to turn the tide?

What do you think, dear reader? Who do you like for the primary and – importantly – how do you think that candidate would fare against Chambliss?

(Photo by Joeff Davis)

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