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GA-Sen: Chambliss Comes Out Swinging Against Obama

by: James L.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 7:22 PM EST


Interesting. Up until now, Republican media efforts in Georgia had yet to pound Jim Martin for his support of Barack Obama -- even as Martin casts himself as a strong Obama supporter in his own ads. That changed today, as Saxby is now shaking things up by "going there":

We saw in the special election in Mississippi's 1st that attacking Obama led to a surge in African-American enthusiasm for Democrat Travis Childers. The difference here is that Chambliss' ad is far less scurrilous (albeit still false) than the toxic waste that Greg Davis produced, and that Martin is running a campaign that seems entirely aimed at mobilizing Obama supporters to come out for a second time, rather than reaching out for crossover votes. We'll just have to see which side is more ginned up.

(H/T: TPM EC)
James L. :: GA-Sen: Chambliss Comes Out Swinging Against Obama
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GA-Sen: Chambliss Comes Out Swinging Against Obama | 23 comments
Martin Has Two Weeks
To reach out to the 3% who voted Libertarian on November 4, to convince them that the one who really is for efficient government and individual liberties is him, not Chambliss.

Two things to focus on for Martin? Chambliss voted for the massive bailout (who's for large government spending again?) and several times with the Bush Administration on renewing the Patriot Act and approving domestic wiretapping, while Martin has opposed them.

Rallying the diehard troops is a good start, but there needs to be a two prong strategy. My suggestion is that other strategy.

Perhaps...
Is there a "middle ground" of appealing to Obama Democrats and Libertarians? I guess Martin can emphasize civil liberties and efficient government. Still, it would be quite a feat. Can Martin handle it?

Yes, Virginia, there ARE progressives in Nevada!
24, gay male, Democrat, NV-03 (or 04?)
[ Parent ]
If He Can
Martin can definitely carve out an image of himself as the ultimate consensus builder; bringing together liberal democrats and libertarians? It'd be pretty sweet.
[ Parent ]
But how?
Yes, there's common ground on civil liberties & "good government" issues. However, let's remember that Thom Hartmann has a good point when he says that Libertarians are essentially "Republicans that like to smoke dope & get laid". So how would Martin reconcile the tax issues?

Perhaps ArkDem is right in saying that all Martin really needs to do is turn out the Obama/Dem base.

Yes, Virginia, there ARE progressives in Nevada!
24, gay male, Democrat, NV-03 (or 04?)

[ Parent ]
Advocate for legalizing drugs & prostitution?

[ Parent ]
Didn't think of that
I wonder if Bob Barr is going to endorse anyone for this run-off.  That could rally libertarian support for Martin if he did.
[ Parent ]
I'm doubtful
that libertarians will make much of an effort to bother to vote here
However, Buckley, the Libertarian candidate certainly would seem to lean towards Martin
GA-Sen: Libertarian Allen Buckley Speaks Out on Georgia Senate Run-Off
So maybe there's something Martin could gain with that approach: bailout and personal liberties
[ Parent ]
its really just about
whose base votes in this kind of election. That's why Martin is focusing on liberals and the black vote.  

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus
[ Parent ]
No no no.
Turnout is going from 4 million to an estimated 1.5 million.  You just need to get 800K-900K of Martin voters out for the re-election and we have a shot.  
[ Parent ]
The Base
Just looking at the numbers, I don't think targeting Libertarians is the way to go.  Assume turnout drops off by 50%.  I'd think it drops off for Libertarians even more since their candidate is out.  So, you're looking at maybe 50,000 Libertarian voters who will vote in the run-off.  They're probably roughly split between Martin and Chambliss.  Persuading even 1/5 of Libs favoring Chambliss to vote for Martin instead would be incredible.  But, you can get the same result by holding onto an extra 1% of your own voters from the general election.  If Martin's voters turns out a few more percents of his general election voters than Chambliss, he'll win.  
[ Parent ]
Great point
That just about summarizes everything I think Martin needs to do.
[ Parent ]
Awesome
They can tie him to Obama all they want for all I care.  Obama only slightly lost Georgia and once the black voters see how much Martin likes Obama they may just flood the polls as they did in early November.
I hope you're right.
N/T

Yes, Virginia, there ARE progressives in Nevada!
24, gay male, Democrat, NV-03 (or 04?)
[ Parent ]
Maybe there is a risk...
In Martin tying himself to Obama in a still (slightly) red state. However, I can also see the reward in seeing all the Obamacans turning out en masse for Martin while McCainiacs are still too depressed to give Chambliss any kind of edge. I just hope the risk is worth it!

Yes, Virginia, there ARE progressives in Nevada!
24, gay male, Democrat, NV-03 (or 04?)
Begich wins
Begich now leads by 3,724 (1.18%) with nearly all votes counted.
You got it...
Before I could come in to hyperventilate & break the news...

http://clintonistasforobama.bl...

;-)

Yes, Virginia, there ARE progressives in Nevada!
24, gay male, Democrat, NV-03 (or 04?)

[ Parent ]
yup, Begich
wins people. That's number 58. Lets try to make it at least 59.  

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus
[ Parent ]
Begich by 3724

Celebration time
I feel likely running out a buying a bottle of champagne, then draining it.
How dare you...
Even threaten to waste good wine like that! At least you could pull "a Madonna" & drink it all in a few seconds while standing on stage in a sexy costume! :-D

Yes, Virginia, there ARE progressives in Nevada!
24, gay male, Democrat, NV-03 (or 04?)
[ Parent ]
Hey!
Don't spend your money on good wine or sexy costumes!  Donate it to the Martin campaign! :)

party: Democratic, ideology: moderate, district: CT-01
[ Parent ]
Martin needs a response ad immediately......
That Chambliss ad will work.  The Obama reference is an aside, perhaps dog-whistle politics, but the message "Martin will raise your taxes, Chambliss will lower them," will sink us if unchallenged.  Great tag line with Chambliss himself making the close looking into the camara.

I hope Martin has money and parries this.  I like his tying himself to Obama, as it's a good risk in this situation.  But I think Chambliss' careful and constrained Obama reference shows the Rethugs won't give us much if any ammunition to fuel our turnout.

43, male, Indian-American, Democrat, VA-10

Agree
The Obama reference was very restrained.  Hard for me to imagine it gins up much backlash from African Americans.
[ Parent ]
GA-Sen: Chambliss Comes Out Swinging Against Obama | 23 comments

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