An Ear to the Ground - Commentary by J.A. Davis
The ever changing current political situation in Georgia is holding true
to form.
First case, the race for the Republican U. S. Senate nomination now
looks likely to go to a runoff. A month ago internal campaign polling
appeared as though Congressman Johnny Isakson was close to a majority
percentage based largely on name recognition.
Current readings of the tea leaves have
produced some widely different results.
Isakson has dropped several points in the
standings for two or three reasons. First,
negative and aggressive opposition from
Georgia Right to Life, regarded by some as one of the most effective
activist groups in the state.
Secondly, his opponents have begin to score and gain some support.
Herman Cain has moved up considerably
and was making what appeared to be the
biggest gains in the race until an apparent
political miscalculation occurred which has slowed his gain and reversed
some of his support.
Cain made an alliance with the Georgia branch of Jesse Jackson's
Rainbow Coalition in an effort to attract black votes
traditionally participating in Democratic primaries. Joe Beasley, the
Georgia Rainbow leader has endorsed Cain and is on board, he says, as
part of the strategy in the Cain campaign.
The apparent miscalculation occurs when
added emphasis is being placed on keeping black voters in the Democratic
race where emphasis is being placed on
getting a majority in the primary for Congresswoman Denise Majette who
is building defenses for a full scale assault by millionaire Cliff Oxford
who has pledged personal resources to the campaign.
Enter Rev. Joseph Lowery who joined with other black leaders such as
Julian Bond of the NAACP and Al Sharpton in denouncing black s crossing
over and voting in the Republican Primary.
While the good reverend didn't mention names it seems pretty obvious his
message to black elected officials in Savannah scolded "colored folks
who vote Republican".
Have you noticed how many of these folks
profess no racism in their remarks, they
usually find a way to get their latest soundbites about the Confederate
flag, Nazis and swastikas in their invectives.
Why not, they've worked hard at painting
Southerners as evil and it should work just
as well to include the Republican Nazis who love everything Confederate.
Too bad it isn't so. Most people know Confederate and Nazi are two
opposite philosophies. To link the two, or include
Republicans, insults the intelligence of fair
minded tolerant people.
While Isakson has slipped, Cain who was
rising rapidly has slowed and may have even lost support after the
revelation of his support by the Rainbow Push Coa lition which now
appears unable to bring the expected black vote to the Republican
Primary.
During the past month, the most substantial gains in this race have been
by Congressman Mac Collins. He has jumped from the twenties a month ago
to a competitive race with Isakson with growing support in rural Georgia
which has been key in recent statewide races.
Second case. Meantime, on the crowded Democratic field, Majette is
pushing hard to get a clear majority by holding fortresses such as the
4th and 5th Congressional Districts together with help from Rev. Lowery
and black elected officials.
Now the next question, how will Cynthia
McKenney and her effort to regain the Congressional seat she lost to Ms.
Majette affect this whole scenario?
As of now the ever changing poitical scene looks like a runoff for the
Republican senate race, not good for Isakson. Majette could win a
majority in a crowded Democrat field if she a nd Rev.
Lowery can keep their heretofore loyalists from voting in the Republican
Primary and Cliff Oxford's spending is for naught.
Jeff Davis is a retired radio-TV journalist living in Gainesville, GA. Active in civic and political affairs,
he is past president of the Georgia Jaycees, former vice president of the US and the world Jaycees, former campaign chairman of the Georgia Republican party. He
voluntarily serves as president of the International Association for the Restoration of Confederate History and the Georgia Heritage Coalition.
He is a collateral descendant of President Jefferson Davis.
Contact: Telephone 770 297-4788 P-6, 2360 Thompson Bridge Road Gainesvlle,
GA 30501
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