UPDATE: Nevermind. This guy is a gong show.
Despite recent polling showing Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia edging former Governor Roy Barnes (D) only by a 42-40 margin in a hypothetical match-up, there has been little visible enthusiasm among Peach State Democrats to reclaim the seat that Chambliss won from former Sen. Max Cleland under less than honorable circumstances. Until now, the only candidate in the race has been DeKalb County CEO and self-professed Bush Democrat Vernon Jones. With his beyond-awful fundraising and a somewhat controversial and flamboyant reputation, Jones has so far failed to gain much traction as a viable challenger or capture the imagination of state and national observers. However, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution informs us that Georgia Democrats have a new choice: six-time Emmy winner and investigative reporter Dick Cardwell.
On Friday, Dale Cardwell ended an 11-year stint as an investigative reporter at WSB-TV.On Saturday, he became a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, looking to knock off Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss.
[…]
Cardwell said he will run against what he calls the daily, debilitating corruption of Washington, and promises to eschew money from special interest groups and political action committees.
[…]
The first issue he mentioned to us was the immigration reform bill now before the U.S. Senate, and hammered out with the assistance of both Chambliss and Johnny Isakson.
Cardwell called it an “amnesty” bill that’s aimed at satisfying corporate interests. “Georgia has to be freed from this illegal invasion that’s holding down salaries,” he said.
Slap shots against “amnesty” aside (and Jones is no different on this score), Cardwell’s family background is “hardcore Democrat”, and grew up in Alabama and Kentucky in a mobile home as the son of a coal miner. His biography lists a series of noteworthy investigations that have “led to the exposure of corruption on the part of former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, the conviction of former DeKalb County Sheriff Sidney Dorsey, the resignation of Fulton County Sheriff Jackie Barrett, the return of public funds by Senator Zell Miller, and the termination of Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue’s abuse of government airplanes and helicopters for private benefit”.
Cardwell would certainly have an impressive story to tell to Georgians, with his populist roots and his public service via journalism. While not a top-tier recruit (although WSB’s footprint apparently covers 60% of the state), Cardwell seems to be a cut above Jones in my eyes. And at this point, I’ll take that much.
(Hat-tips: Senate 2008 Guru and Tondee’s Tavern.)
Race Tracker: GA-Sen
It’s gold Jerry.. gold
Vernon Jones has even written checks for the Georgia Republican Party, http://www.newsmeat….
not just voted for their candidates. Nice to see a Democrat in the race and a Democrat that takes a similar populist position on illegal immigration as a Dorgan, Tester, or Webb. If only the junior Senator (the distingushed Tom Harkin) from my state would take the same position.
Are we supposed to take Cardwell any more seriously than we are Vernon Jones? Like I’ve said previously, I’m not the most up-to-date on GA politics, so I wasn’t sure if this guy is what we are looking for. Is there any chance that Marlow (in the event he were to lose that special/run-off) transitions his campaign into one for the Senate race? Kinda like how Hackett did in OH when he came up a little short in a GOP district and then went into a Senate campaign (for a little while at least, lol). I know Marshall/Baker/Thurmond are who most of us are thinking turn this race into a top-tier one, but in the event that Marshall goes for re-elect and Baker/Thurmond have their eyes on 2010 races, I thought Marlow would be an interesting choice. Or is Cardwell our Dem?