Obama Dispatching Aides To Georgia Senate Race

Democratic officials confirm that Barack Obama is sending aides to help with the runoff senatorial campaign in Georgia, putting his post-election coattails to an immediate test.

Organizers who worked on behalf of the Illinois Democrat are heading to the Peach State to offer similar assistance to Jim Martin, the Democratic challenger who is facing a second-round contest against incumbent Saxby Chambliss after neither candidate received 50 percent of the initial vote.

The investment by Obama, confirmed by an official working on behalf of the Senate campaign, apparently includes "ground team" members as well as "online specialists and bloggers," and represents one of the earliest tests of the influence he can wield on the political landscape. A Daily Kos diarist first heard about the move from the Martin team.

It remains unclear whether Obama himself will appear in the state. His campaign put limited paid resources into Georgia during the general election, mainly during the waning weeks of the campaign, though Obama's registration efforts there were lauded for making the presidential contest in that state much closer than the historical norm.

Martin's race to replace Chambliss was even closer. The longtime Georgian Democrat finished with just under 47 percent of the vote to Chambliss' 49.8 percent. Because neither candidate was able to win a majority of the vote, the two will square off again on December 2.

While Martin will be assisted in the effort by the Obama campaign, Chambliss will be banking on GOP star-power to help propel him into office for a second term. Already it has been reported that Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin and John McCain will be either making campaign stops on the Georgian's behalf or providing volunteers and aide.

Comments

[westreal]

Rack up as many seats as we can.

[ohyes]

YES!

[redsongia]

Oh, you KNEW that was comming. Send Axelrod!

[piper1233]

overkill

[kaukerc]

If Obama wants Georgia, he needs to be the torch bearer and COME to Georgia.... and he needs to make it an extensive visit. Hell, stay in Atlanta for a week or two. Voting Republican is encoded into the DNA of these people here---- I am not sure he is going to be able to pull this off with just volunteers and canvasers. He might get close, but if he wants the "peach," he's going to have to show up for it.

[Harry Scrote]

Right, because O has all the time in the world before January, to help Martin down here. C'mon now, think about what you're saying here.

[lottakatz]

The best way to help America is to have as many Democrats in the House and Senate as possible as the first order of business. Visiting GA a couple of times would be the best thing he could do.

[AngryCitizen]

President Obama has to be ready to take over this mess from the bushies which is more important than Georgia. Joe can go, along with other names like Hillary. He needs to stay on point.

[geaaronson]

This may be a problematic situation for Obama. It`s most likely that Saxby, one of the most politically sleazy current Senators, (recall that in 2002 he disparaged his opponent Max Cleland`s patriotism for failure to endorse the Iraqui incursion, but had lost 3 LIMBS in the Vietnam War) will be reelected. If Obama actively campaigns in Georgia, it will be his first major political defeat and it will damage the coattails effect of unifying the party behind him

[Harry Scrote]

No.

[anelder]

Shouldn't. The way I see it he knows this coming in. The loss will show me he was willing to sacrifice this political whatever for the good of his overall programs.

Losing isn't the 'me bad' in life, not trying is. Putting his money where his mouth is - that's the glory.

Check the blogs and radio to see all the crap being said about him even before he takes a step. It's gonna be there all the way. If the congress and senate are too weak to stay the course then lets get them out, again, in two years. Democrats who wimp out don't necessarity have to be supported for their next term. The DNC can decide to reject them and support others. I think?

[RobHughey]

Obama's responsibility is to the nation, to a smooth transition of power and to doing what he's doing now: working as hard as he ever has in his life to put our country back on the right path. I think most of us in Georgia realize this.

But you've hit the nail on the head as to why Saxby Chambliss is so horrific for so many of us. The campaign of 2002 was DISGUSTING. Up until that point, Cleland had been something of a shining star of patriotism in Georgia. I grew up all through school watching and reading history lessons from him as Secretary of State. I didn't even know until I was an adult that he only had one arm and no legs, but learning that only made me admire him even more. I always thought "look what he has accomplished, so what could I do with what I have?!" But then that election happened... and this dear Democratic ally became somehow branded as Anti-American, against our Troops and, worst of all, Untrustworthy.

For this reason above all the other glaring problems and horrors of Senator Chambliss, we must get Jim Martin elected in December.

[KingMaker]

All the Dems have to is have Obama dispatch himself to Georgia and the Senate race will be over.

[AngryCitizen]

umm, no.

[OB08]

Any DEM living near this area please get out and work extra hard, canvassing, donate, do whatever you can do to elect Martin to office.

[GwenElle]

This is what I have been waiting to hear! We Georgians are going to work like hell to bring this one home!

[ENOS]

PLEASE DO!

[SuzyQ08]

We're all rooting for you guys to bring this thing home!!

[chriss0114]

I'm sure the state of Alaska will be happy to pay S Palin and her family's way to Georgia in the guise of "official business sanctioned by GOD."

[BobinKS]

What will she have to wear? All of the clothes were returned to the RNC.

[solarenergy]

She's already intellectually naked, so perhaps she could go nudist.

She would draw large crowds.

[cjo30080]

I live in Georgia, and we (and the country) desperately need your help.

Click on the link below and give $5 (or more) right now. Don't think. Click and give. Now!

http://www.martinforsenate.com/

[khaleef49]

Lord knows that I don't have a lot of money but I just donated because I am so tired of the Republican Party and their way of thinking, a bunch of idiots.

[Purobi]

Thanks. Gave $50 and sent the website to a bunch of friends.

[BGDiNLV]

Will contribute on Friday(payday) Count me for $30.00.

[SurrealPumpkin]

Thanks.

[chriss0114]

OK people, let's make this happen to keep another R Naz i out of the Senate.

Donate what you can or help out locally if you are able:

http://www.martinforsenate.com/home.html

I contributed today.

[nikio1975]

I can contribute Friday(payday)

[tbone99]

Put your money where your heart is -a Dem Senate , capable of putting Obama's wishes into action
The gift that keeps on giving...

http://www.actblue.com/page/dbratl

[Trogenhorse]

Did anyone make the connection the final battle ground ( Dr. King's home) is Ga?
What a story!

[meede]

Must be a Neiman Marcus in Georgia if Palin is willing to go there!!!!

[lionsforlambs]

Yes, I live in Georgia and we do have a Neiman Marcus in Atlanta, GA.

[Harry Scrote]

LOL.

[SeanGardner]

Obama supporters are going to have to utilize e-mail. I was watching CNN yesterday and saw numbers from a poll that revealed how Americans got their news about the presidential race. More than network news and more than cable news, Americans used internet news sites and e-mail for info about Obama and McCain.

I was a volunteer web strategist for the Obama Campaign. I found a way to help Obama out by launching my own “50 State Strategy” - essentially a massive e-mail campaign, a serious web strategy, where I micro-targeted voters.

I e-mailed over 1000 people in Georgia this summer in five key cities: Atlanta; Macon; New Brunswick; Savannah; Warner Robbins. But I put heavy emplasis on Atlanta because I felt that if Obama overperformed in that city, it would put him in serious contention.

I didn't e-mail anyone repeatedly because that would make me a bonafide spammer. So I only e-mailed them one time. I spent two hours a day for mining the internet for e-mails specific to region, race, ethinicity, etc.

I've been telling people in Georgia that e-mail has to be used. Period. So if you know folks in Georgia guys, let them know. Chambliss can go down with the right type of e-mail campaign.

[Oregon Ivy]

Absolutely. I spent more time this past year trying to correct false email rumors about Obama with people. I don't know why everyone believes those idiot emails and forwards them to everyone they've ever known since kindergarten, but they do. It's an insidious way to undermine Obama, and they use it!

[SurrealPumpkin]

Someone forwarded some of those to me. I got tired of deleting them so I replied to one gushing on about how wonderful Obama was and how he'll single handedly end violence, poverty, drug addiction, child abuse and anything else I could think of.

I didn't get anymore of those e-mails.