Will Obama Go To Georgia?

With John McCain set to hit the trail for Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss' runoff election campaign, the question on the minds of Democrats in the state is when or if Barack Obama will follow suit.

Jim Martin, the Democratic challenger in Georgia, was able to keep Chambliss under the 50 percent mark during the first round of voting. Since then, however, the GOP has redoubled its efforts, sending or promising to send party luminaries like Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin and McCain to campaign on Chambliss' behalf.

And while the Obama team already has a strong infrastructure in the state and is dispatching more volunteers, Democratic operatives in Georgia are concerned that the president-elect won't be coming himself.

"Why isn't Obama coming to Georgia?" one source asked. "He could possibly come right up until election day -- but McCain's actually here today."

Asked if the president-elect would make the trip, the Obama team did not immediately return a request for comment.

There are, clearly, areas where he could help and hurt himself by jumping into the Georgia runoff ring.

Alan Abramowitz, a political science professor at Emory University, notes that, with the presidential election over, Obama is now trying "to broaden his appeal and act presidential. So he is not in campaign mode anymore, whereas for McCain it doesn't matter." Moreover, if Obama were to show up and Martin lost, it could send a poor message.

"This is a group that has never been comfortable with hard-hitting politics," said a Democrat helping the Martin campaign, "and I would bet they don't want to risk political capital on seat #58."

On the flip side, Obama could earn even more veneration among Democrats if he were to help pull Martin across the finish line. In the process he would demonstrate a dedication to, or sense of, party.

Certainly, Abramowitz says, Obama could make a difference. Nearly four million people voted in Georgia on November 4. That number is expected to drop to approximately 1.5 million when the runoff occurs on December 2. The campaign best equipped at getting people to the polls, consequently, stands the best shot of winning.

"I still think it is possible that he may end up coming down," said Abramowitz. "And from a strategic standpoint it makes sense for him to come down, if he does, at the end. It would help stimulate and increase Democratic turnout."

As such, a few sources said they wouldn't be surprised if Obama ultimately came to Georgia -- just closer to the actual runoff date.

Comments

[chango369]

I hope that Obama does make an appearance here in Georgia. I would love to have the chance to hear him in person.

To Georgians re the election:

Please refer to the following page for runoff election information:

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

[freedomthrutruth]

The main question here seems to revolve around the idea as to the extent to which black voters will participate in the run-off if Obama fails to show up in Georga in support of Martin. Georgia is a bad climate for Democrats for at least two reasons: 1) extreme racism which tends to play a major role in politics in that state; 2) voting machine apparatus featuring neither an audit nor paper trail nor hand recount (if necessary) and thus permitting many opportunities for voter fraud and theft by Republican operatives in key positions. Given this unfortunate scenario in this Georgia Senate race, I predict Chambliss will win the run-off especially if African American voters stay home for lack of interest. On the other hand, Obama can quietly significantly increase campaign personnel in Georgia to persuade blacks and Latinos to show up at the polls in droves and to convince fence-sitters among whites to abandon any idea of voting for Chambliss because he like Bush has helped cause many of their misfortunes. To that end, Obama doesn't necessarily have to appear incarnate in Georgia in order to stimulate an increased number of votes for Martin.

[Crozier]

I disagree. He needs as POTUS-elect, to show his strength. He should go with Max Cleland and every other Vietnam vet to do two things....­..show what kind of despicable hypocrite that McCain is in supporting him, and showing Vietnam and other veterans how despicable Chambliss is.

Then, as has been stated, whites and Latinos and Blacks will feel motivated to fight the entrenched fraud that is GA.

[huzzah]

"He needs as POTUS-elect, to show his strength."

That's exactly why I think he SHOULDN'T come. What if he shows his strength and Chambliss wins? What does that say about that strength? I agree with everything freedomthrutruth said.

[MindyM]

I would love to see Chambliss lose. After the dirty campaign he ran against Max Cleland, it's personal as far as I am concerned. I think the Democrats should certainly send someone down there, maybe Bill AND Hillary. We can't just let this guy take it in a walk. I have no illusions about the steep hill we have to climb. The Republicans will be out for blood, after getting trounced in the presidential election. The racists will be out in force with their smears and filthy lies.

But I say let's not give up on this one. We need as many seats as we can get and by defeating Chambliss, we can win this for Cleland and get rid of one more slimeball.

[hapiday]

Absolutely not! President Elect Obama should not go to Georgia. It's far too dangerous and I question the motives of the people who keep suggesting he go. The white majority in Georgia are still very angry. Why put this man's life in danger for one senate seat. Send a representative because we all know they are professionals and capable of

[laborgrunt]

If the president elect can not go to a state in the union because of fears of an attack then we really have a bigger problem then ever. He is the president to be and will be the president of GA as well. He needs to go and bring out the vote in Atlanta.

[JulieDole]

Excellent point.

[huzzah]

I disagree about him coming, but not because of any supposed threat. I just think it's not a wise move politically.

[Mekarri]

I live unfortunately in Ga. I am a black woman and it is a very, very, very racist place. I would love to see and hear Obama but this is dangerous for him. A lot of whites are angry about Obama winning. I work at University Hospital in Augusta Ga and the day after Obama won some white boss wouldn't even speak but I am fortunate to have a very wonderful person for a boss eventhough I think he voted for mccain. I was so excited the next day I told him how happy I was and we went on with our day. But some of my friends and family had different experience that was quite as positive.

[functor]

send Biden over there!

[hapiday]

Absolutely not! President Elect Obama should not go to Georgia. It's far too dangerous and I question the motives of the people who keep suggesting he go. The white majority in Georgia are still very angry. Why put this man's life in danger for one senate seat.

[ramal]

Absolutely HE SHOULD make a campaign appearance in Georgia. I live in this state and have no idea what "white majority in Georgia are still very angry" you are talking about. I have spoken with plenty of Republicans and Independents here who voted for McCain. While there may be dissapointment among them that their man lost, I know of no one who is angry. Obama will be the President of the entire country and as such must make appearances in all of the fifty states. I feel that his presence here would galvanize many in the state and bring out the vote for Martin. Had Obama come here three weeks ago he might have carried the state.

[Mom to 2]

LOTS of the 'white' people here in GA voted for Barack, myself included!!! To imply that those of us who live here and who have said that we hope he comes here have ulterior motives is extremely insulting!!!! I was angry when Bush won in '00 and '04, but that didn't mean anything other than the fact that I was angry. Let's cut people some slack!!

[SpectCon]

Listen, you live in a racist part of the country, period.

[theone718]

Just send Bill there for a month and call it a day.

[edwarvir]

He is not coming there, because he has a cabinet
to pick. He has to get a little rest. He has to
spend some quality time with Mrs. O and the girls.
and find a puppy. So There !

[laborgrunt]

So the puppy has is more important than a Senate seat?

[Mildmannered]

I don't think Obama should go.

[Springbirdgirl]

I live in Georgia and as much as I would love for PE Obama to come, I think it would be a wasted effort. This is a very Republican state. The anger here is palpable where I work. They are looking at a Chambliss win as redemption for McCain's loss.

[tottie2001]

I agree. I too live in Ga..and right now the climate is still too rac ist for an Obama appearance to influence any more voters enough to get a Martin win. I also agree they are using Chambliss as their Great Hope for the GOP hence McCain's appearance­...however I dont think he will influence any independents they will keep their base and Chambliss is running significantly more commercials now than Martin, so again as the writer stated it will be who can influence their voters most. Martin to me lacks enthusiasm­....and only gets some when his name is attached to Obama. I will vote on Dec 2nd because Chambliss has got to go but I dont know how many others will do and feel the same.

[LisaSt]

Send Bill and Hillary and have Obama appear at the rallies on a Jumbo Tron.

[bungholio]

max Cleland deserves it. Chambliss called his egregeous ad a "myth" . Barack, get down there!

[SpectCon]

Obama and the Dems have a mandate and economic rationale to SPEND money. This is a MAJOR deal as the Democrats can finally GIVE something to people. Minimizing the gov't, making gov't out to be evil is why the GOP has been in control of this country for so long. Obama is about to change all that.

He can't risk his mandate (entirely perception created and perpetuated by the media) if we're going to pull this off.

[Xelene]

Obama just shouldn't! GA is still very... umm... racist, and yes, Clinton would be a very good substitute! Plus, what if B.O gets shot? I don't think it's a good policy for Obama to go there!

[jusme2008]

Xelene, do you live in Georgia? If so, I'd wonder what part of Georgia. I'm a Georgia native & have family spread throughout the state. I think many people like to stereotype Georgia as racist. The stereotype that Southerners are racist seems to be quite widespread. In reality, I think Georgia is far LESS racist than many other places. Because...­..

....Georgi­a is integrated. By that I mean there is about a third of the population that are African American. From what I've seen of the demographics, states like Iowa, Kansas, Wyoming, the Dakotas, and Idaho have virtually NO African Americans as a percentage of their population. Most of my very best friends are beautiful, intelligent, proud women of color. Can all those who assume "Southerners are racist" say that about their own circle of friends?

As a Georgian I find your comment, "what if B.O. gets shot" a little offensive. While I'm not saying that is completely impossible, I don't know why anyone would assume the odds would be greater in Georgia than any other state.

[Mekarri]

Jusme2008, I live in Ga and it is very racist. Ga is not as integrated as you state at least not here in Augusta. My sister lives in Atlanta and she seem to have the same take on Ga. I don't find it offensive for some one to worry about Obama safety in Ga because I do as well. But I have been praying for his safety since this thing began. There are a lot racists here.

[zg1968]

Send Bill Clinton. He can speak the language of white rednecks.

[denicci1977]

I would love for Obama to come down here to GA. There is not enough enthusiasm for people to go back out to the polls for Martin as there were for Obama. I missed him when he came down months ago so would definitely make it if he came back down again. Saxby Chambliss is running horrible ads of Martin with Obama in it. Some of his ads are scare tactics trying to make Georgians horrified what would happen if Democrats won more seats. I don't have a good feeling about this at all. We need all the help we can get to help Martin out here. I don't think people realize how important this is for Democrats.