Believe it or not, there will be several more elections on the ballot in Georgia in addition to the Presidential race. While the ballot will start with the Presidential candidates, it will include candidates for both federal and state office.
Today - a reflection on just the federal races in Georgia.
In the United States Senate race, incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss will face the winner of the Democratic primary. While Senator Chambliss’ impressive fundraising combined with the backing of both Senator Johnny Isakson and Governor Sonny Perdue make him formidable, there will nonetheless be a Democratic challenger. So far, five Democrats have lined up to challenge Senator Chambliss in 2008.
Many regard DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jordan as the leading contender in the Democratic primary. The combination of his statewide name recognition among Democrats and the influence of DeKalb County in the Democratic primary give him a leg up on his competitors for the Democratic nomination. Of course, Vernon Jones is no stranger to the media or controversy.
Former television investigator Dale Cardwell certainly has to be one of the most entertaining candidates to vie for United States Senate. Already, he has added some flair to the race. He spent a week on a two and one-half foot by six foot platform suspended 320 feet in the air in order to attract attention to his message. Unfortunately, no one noticed until days after he had been there. Undoubtedly, there will be many more media friendly events as he attempts to reach voters in a different kind of way. If nothing else, he should make it fun.
Former staffer to the late Senator Herman Talmadge Josh Lanier has also expressed interest in seeking the Democratic nomination. After Senator Talmadge, he served as a journalist for ten years in Washington, D.C. In 2006, he retired to Statesboro, Georgia from LightStream Technologies, where he had served as the Vice Chairman and Chief Customer Officer. He is currently writing a screenplay while considering a run for United States Senate. Recently, there was a poll that showed if no one knew anything about either Senator Chambliss or him, then he would be even in the race. Senator Chambliss promptly used the poll to raise more money.
Ecologist and technology consultant Dr. Rand Knight is also a Democratic candidate for United States Senate. Quoting from the Democratic Party of Georgia website, he is “following in the footsteps of his hero, Senator Sam Nunn, who he met several times, first in 1984 and then several times in high-school while on week-long scholarships with the Close-Up program in Washington D.C.”
Finally, news reporter Maggie Martinez is in the Democratic contest. She has served as producer and moderator for Women in Power, Women in the Power Spheres, and Women Toward the Year 2000. She is also a news reporter for San Juan Broadcasting station WUNO.
Notably, none of the Democratic political heavyweights (such as former Governor Roy Barnes, former Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor, or former Secretary of State Cathy Cox) have shown any interest in challenging the popular incumbent Republican Senator. Absent some sudden interest, this is the Democratic field.
Meanwhile, Republicans have zeroed in on and targeted Eighth District Congressman Jim Marshall. In 2006, amidst the Democratic national landside, incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim Marshall narrowly defeated a challenge from Republican Mac Collins.
In 2008, Rick Goddard, the former Commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, will mount the challenge. Prior to retiring after 34 years of service, General Goddard served as commander for two F-111 Fighter/Bomber wings - the 380th Bomb Wing at Plattsburgh, New York and the 27th Fighter Wing at Clovis, New Mexico.
Interestingly, the debates in these two election contests should be a story in real contrasts. First, there is the Democratic Primary for United States Senate - two television reporters, one journalist, a Ph.D. ecologist and the notable Vernon Jones. This may be more entertainment than Democratic voters can take. Who could moderate such a debate? GPTV should love it.
Then, there is the Congressional race in the Eighth Congressional District - an embattled Democratic Congressman, serving in a Speaker Nancy Pelosi led Congress, facing a decorated Air Force officer from Governor Sonny Perdue’s backyard in Warner Robins. Intimidating, to say the least.