Clinton did fundraise for him

So he'd likely be willing to campaign some.

I agree that Obama shouldn't actively campaign for Martin.  He has other things to focus on and defeat could tarnish his presidency before it begins.  Sending an email to supports in Georgia (or perhaps nationally), on the other hand, would be quite helpful and low risk.

---

by: Marcus @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 14:45:43 PM CST

And it's not like McCain did great in Georgia

I think it was 52%.  Not a great showing!

Plus, the loser of the race is campaigning.  Not the best rep.  And we already know that it was Palin who drew crowds, not McCain.  

---

by: ChuckInSeattle @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 15:40:56 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I don't think he will completely sit out

There is a lot he can do to help, especially if his GA folks and others in the region take a trip to help out. It's possible, POSSIBLE that the sight of McCain campaigning for Saxby could bring Obama's supporters back out. After all, how motivated do you think McCranky's will be to show up again after getting crushed. Some may cite the example of 2002 in LA, but it was because Donna Brazile and Bill Clinton got the AA community out in large enough numbers to alter the composition of the electorate. If downstate GA does not show up in the same numbers, we can tip the balance getting Atlanta and the surrounding area out in force.

---

by: RandySF @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 15:48:26 PM CST

Is the risk really that great?

I know that would be the conventional view, but Obama is pretty good at spinning out from under conventional views I think.  Couldn't he just say something like

"Look, this is a state we lost to John McCain a month ago.  It should surprise absolutely no one that Democrats lose a statewide race in Georgia again.  What should surprise people is that Democrats are able to fight even in the beating heart of the South.  Republicans are a southern party now, but even here our Democratic message of change is so strong that we're forcing incumbent senators into runoffs.  Democrats are committed to fighting for the whole country, and asking for every vote, so to say that fighting hard for the votes of Georgians is a sign of weakness is to completely misread both the electorate itself, and our commitment to all the people of this country."

Fighting only those races in which you have a better than 40% chance of victory is the old, ten-House-challengers Democratic strategy.  Adding in all the races in which you have a 25-40% chance of victory has been a central argument of the netroots and others seeking to revitalize the party.  The campaigns of Jim Webb, Paul Hackett, Tom Perriello, Charlie Brown, Kay Hagan, Kathy Dahlkemper, Linda Ketner and others have been about attempting those races that fall between 25 and 40% probability, and winning about that percentage of them.

I'm not a campaign expert, and if the odds of a Jim Martin win are indeed well under 25%, then Obama would be right to pass on the race.  I don't want him to go out on a limb for absolutely nothing.  But the conventional view has been far too conservative on this subject -- the idea being that contesting the second tier is a sign of weak judgment, not of electoral strength and political resolve.  I think the voices advising Obama (ESPECIALLY EMANUEL!) are too likely to advise him to pass, when he should instead say "fuck the post-election spin, I can outspin them anyway, let's try it."  So I'm arguing the other way.

---

by: texas dem @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 15:56:41 PM CST

Emanuel, haha :D

Let's hope his testosterone kicks into high gear!

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

---

by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 16:03:46 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Don't get me wrong

I'd love for Obama to stump for Martin, but I just think he's not in partisan battle mode anymore, and doesn't want to make it look that way, either.

---

by: James L. @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 16:08:31 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This Is Surprising

I thought McCain would just go back to Arizona for awhile and hide out until the new year, but he's still in campaign mode. I wonder what he will say about President-elect Obama after the concession he gave on Tuesday?

---

by: Don't Tase Me, Bro! @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 16:50:48 PM CST

Universal Healthcare

Univeral Healthcare will be tough to get with just 57 Senate seats.  58 would be exponentially better (picking off two is much easier than picking off three.)  

Employee Free Choice won't be easy either.  The Republicans will draw the line in the sand at one or more likely both of those.  

He needs Martin.  He really does.

---

by: 23Progressive @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 20:46:01 PM CST

WE need Martin.

We all do, as Americans.

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

---

by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 20:59:58 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Were not going to get EFCA

We can simply forget about that one.  We can probably get Universal Healthcare if we put it in the budget which cannot be filibustered.  

---

by: BillNolan @ Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 02:54:31 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Obama sends Ohio team to help Martin

http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2...

Looks like Obama is helping out Martin and in a way much more beneficial than simply stumping for him. As one of the Obama worker's states "I'm coming to Georgia and bringing several hundred of my friends with me." Whoa.

---

by: nrimmer @ Sun Nov 09, 2008 at 23:16:41 PM CST

Check out the other links in Palmetto Scoop

The 2 links about the "invasion" of Ohio tourists to S.C. are effin hilarious. Good example of culture war flaming. I am curious to see if Chambliss goes on the "carpetbagger" and other negative campaign which has the outsider (code: racial) tip. On the positive note, this is the best thing that the campaign could have done. Low profile but high impact - if we pull out the win on this it will prove that this election wasn't just about the anti-Bush vote and the black turnout but the incredible organization of the Obama campaign.

---

by: bawambi @ Mon Nov 10, 2008 at 07:53:44 AM CST