Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Allen Buckley, the Libertarian candidate for the Senate from Georgia, is going up on the air on cable in Metro Atlanta and Columbus. This is good news. The analysis for a Survey USA poll states that Buckley hurts Chambliss more.
The first ad is over the flip.
Allen Buckley Commercial #1 from Allen Buckley on Vimeo.
And while we’re here, give Jim Martin some love: a Act Blue.
According to the Politico, Jim Martin pulled in $1.3 million in the third quarter compared to Saxby Chambliss' total of $1.1 million. While this number is encouraging, Jim's spending leaves him with only $93,000 left in COH.
However, this number does not take into account the $100,000+ raised in the last week on ActBlue. Of which, Swing State donors have contributed over $5000! This race is close in the polls and the fundraising numbers are certainly a sign people are investing to send Saxby home in November.
Six years ago, as the nascent liberal blogosphere first began to coalesce, one particular incident quickly became seared in our minds, forever to be a rallying cry – something we would never let go unanswered again. I’m speaking of Saxby Chambliss’s unthinkably odious ad in which he slurred Max Cleland by pairing the triple-amputee war hero with images of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein:
 |
I know you haven’t forgotten this grave offense – none of us have. That’s why I’ve put our goal thermometer right along side that ad, so that we can finally exact payback for this most outrageous and underhanded attack.
I’ll be honest: I didn’t think we’d see this day so soon. Georgia hasn’t exactly been fertile territory for Democrats in some time, and I figured Saxby would cruise to re-election. Fortunately, the political environment and the quality of our nominee have changed things dramatically. We need to seize this opportunity, to honor Max Cleland, to show that we won’t get bullied, and to send a great populist progressive like Jim Martin to the Senate.
We’ve already made awesome progress toward our goal in just twenty-four hours. But time is running very, very short. Barely more than three weeks remain until election day. Please give now.
Check this shit out. Insider Advantage (PDF) (10/9, likely voters, no trendlines):
Jim Martin (D): 45
Saxby Chambliss (R-inc): 45
Other: 2
Undecided: 8
(MoE: ±4.3%)
Hot damn. While Insider Advantage doesn’t make its internals and crosstabs public, this is in line with just about every other recent poll we’ve seen in this race. There is just no doubt now that this is a seriously hot contest, and a winnable seat for Dems.
Which is why I’m going to implore you once again to chip in and help out Jim Martin’s campaign. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about the blogosphere’s fundraising capabilities. One thing that’s become clear to me is that we function best when we act as a first mover – when we jump in early, get the ball rolling, and build up some buzz. In the right cases, that excitement draws in the bigger players and special things can really happen. And I think this is one of those cases.
However, we all know that for Team Blue to have a serious shot here, Chuck Schumer and the DSCC have to get involved. But like James said, we need to put our money where our mouths are – if those of us who are clamoring to make this a marquee race don’t pony up, why should the big boys?
I should add, though, that this fundraising push is not just about momentum-building. Jim Martin is going to need every last dime he can get his hands on. $2300 won’t cover the cost of TV ads, but it can pay for vans to transport voters on election day, boxes of palm cards, pizza for the staff, you name it. In a race as tight as this, everything counts, large and small.
So please, I implore you – dig deep. I know things are scary economically right now and that this ask is probably not coming at a good time for most folks. But if we want Barack Obama to have a real shot at undoing the mess that eight years of Bush, Cheney and McCain have gotten us into, then he’s going to need progressive populist partners like Jim Martin. Let’s make it happen!
(Hat-tip: RandySF)
UPDATE: Can’t believe I forgot the bonus finding! McNap leads by just THREE points statewide (PDF), 49-46. Yes, in Georgia.
LATE UPDATE: Wow! We only began late this afternoon and we’re already at 19 contributions and $923 donated. Can we make it an even 20/$1000?
Strategic Vision (R) (10/5-7, likely voters, 9/7-9 in parens):
Jim Martin (D): 44 (36)
Saxby Chambliss (R-inc): 47 (54)
Allen Buckley (L): 4 (4)
(MoE: ±3%)
Here’s yet more confirmation that we have a real race on our hands in Georgia: even Republican pollster Strategic Vision has the race within three, tightening from an 18-point spread one month ago (before the stock market collapse, Chambliss’s bailout vote, and, as an extra treat for Georgians, gas lines). The same sample shows a surprisingly close presidential race in Georgia as well, with McCain up only 50-43.
This poll might stick out like a sore thumb, if it didn’t mirror every other poll taken in the last few weeks; in fact, this race just slipped in to yellow toss-up territory at Pollster.com. Winning here (and the other Pollster tossups) would not only take us to the ‘magic number’ of 60, but give us the immense satisfaction of taking out Chambliss, who owes his Senate seat to one of the most disgusting smear jobs in American history. His opponent, Jim Martin, was just yesterday added to O2B over at Kos (hint hint).
There was a poll after the GA primary that showed Martin down 6 and Schumer and the DSCC said they’d keep an eye on this race. Well, it looks like they may look elsewhere now.
Atlanta attorney Jim Martin had much to celebrate last night at Piedmont Park’s Park Tavern as he, his family, and campaign team savored a landslide victory rout over DeKalb County Executive Vernon Jones.
Atlanta’s WSB-TV is reporting this morning that Martin garnered 190000+ votes to win 60/40 over Jones with 99% of precints reporting. WSB election results data can be found here.
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitition:
.Turnout was light in the race for the Democratic Party nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
Only 18 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the primary, and fewer than half of those were expected to return to the polls Tuesday for 12 hours of voting that began at 7 a.m.
The entire AJC article can be found here.
NEXT STEPS
While many local and national pundits have viewed a Martin/Chambliss contest as a third tier race, recent polling data suggests otherwise Chambliss is vulnerable. Recent polling shows that fewer than 40% of Georgia voters are planning to vote to re-elect him this November. Here is recent polling data from the Mellman Group here.
This is a winnable race. An exceptionally strong African American turnout in Georgia this fall in support of Barack Obama, aided by substantial liberal voting blocs in Fulton and DeKalb counties, Athens, and Savannah, can propel Martin to victory in November.
Whether you live in Georgia or elsewhere, your help is needed. Saxby Chambliss begins this race with a substantial $4 million+ campaign war chest. Although Jim Martin has proven to be an adept fundraiser in previous campaigns, he cannot overcome this current Chambliss financial advantage without your help.
DONT GET MAD…GET EVEN!
Saxby Chambliss’ despicable, vicious and dishonest attacks on war hero and former Senator Max Cleland in the 2002 election, plus his unyielding support of George W. Bush for the last six years underscore his lack of character and judgement. He’s in the same league as other Bushbots like Joe Lieberman, John Cornyn, and others. It’s time for us to GET EVEN and remove the stench of Saxby Chambliss from the US Senate.
Whether you live in Georgia or elsewhere, your help is needed. Saxby Chambliss begins this race with a substantial $4 million+ campaign warchest. Although Jim Martin has proven to be an adept fundraiser in previous campaigns, he cannot overcome this current Chambliss financial advantage without your help. Please consider a donation today to help Jim defeat Chambliss.
Donate to the Martin For Senate campaign here.
Be sure to put add a penny (.01) to your donation so it can be identified as netroots support.
VOLUNTEER
An exceptionally strong network of volunteers in the Atlanta area were critical to Jim Martin’s primary and runoff successes, but much more help will be needed to successfully defeat Chambliss. Whether you are a Georgia resident or reside in surrounding states like Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, or SC, please take time to volunteer and help us remove the Stench of Saxby from public office. You can volunteer to help Jim Martin defeat Saxby Chambliss here.
Cross posted at Daily Kos.
Loading ...A new Zogby poll shows less than 40% believe Sen. Chambliss deserves reelection. http://www.zogby.com/news/Read…
While I suspect this is an internal Democratic polls, perhaps this seat is in play. Previous polling has been consistent in sshowing a big lead for Chambliss. And after the blind bio questions are read, Lanier actually leads 47%-45%.
Is this another Zogby hoax, or is there real hope here?
Well-known Georgia populist firebrand and former state legistlator Wycliffe “Wyc” Orr is seriously considering a run against the incompetent and disgraceful Bush rubber stamp, Saxby Chambliss.
Orr, a north Georgia trial lawyer and military veteran, is well-respected throughout the state and is acknowledged as one of the best stump speakers among all Georgia politicians. A group of activist Georgia Democrats, concerned about the various weaknesses of the current 3 declared candidates, is strongly urging Wyc to run and has launched a “Draft Wyc” organization to support his candidacy.
Get an idea of Wyc’s stump strength in the video on the flip…
Orr, in a recent radio talk show appearance, has called for immediate, no-nonsense withdrawal from Iraq. He is regarded as a strong populist and exudes a persona that reminds one of Alabama’s Ron Sparks.
Read more about Wyc Orr and sign the draft petition here. There are also a number of video’s of Orr’s speeches on the site.
Georgia Democrats badly need an aggressive firebrand populist with great stump skills to challenge Chambliss, and Orr just may be the person to fill that bill. Two of the three declared candidates have major weaknesses, while the third and most viable of the three currently announced candidates lacks experience:
Vernon Jones, DeKalb County Chief Executive, Democrat who allegedly supported Bush in 2004. Long saddled with the reputation of a somewhat hedonistic private life, Jones has more baggage than can be found in the belly of a Boeing 777. He has only raised $18,000 thus far, an indication that he has little support.
Dale Cardwell, former WSB TV investigative reporter, is essentially a right wing Republican masquerading as a Democrat. His positions on various issues range from Republican-talking-point to just-plain- crazy…he wants to abolish the IRS for example. For more on Cardwell, his site is here.
Rand Knight, an environmental scientist, is the most appealing of the currently-declared candidates. A new face on the scene, his positions on issues are very much in sync with progressive Dem values. However, he is inexperienced and a marginal stump speaker. IMO, he is extraordinarily intelligent, but does not seem to have to capacity to communicate in such a way that the average Georgian would understand. His website, which can be found here, is impressive but the verbiage is just too verbose. A Knight candidacy would be a good thing in that it would help him gain some seasoning as campaigner, but in the big picture he’s not the right guy to face Chambliss at this time.
.
Orr has great potential appeal. He has an impeccable reputation in terms of personal integrity, is a solid populist and life-long Democrat, is a veteran, and kicks ass as a speaker. Keep your eye on Wyc…he just may be the right guy to knock off Chambliss.
Crossposted at Daily Kos.
Loading ...A new Georgia poll shows that incumbent GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss could be vulnerable if former Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes should enter the race for the Senate seat. Chambliss only polled 2 points ahead of Barnes in the new InsiderAdvantage poll.
Saxby Chambliss 42%
Roy Barnes 40%
DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones who does not have as much name recognition statewide as Barnes was able to keep Chambliss under 50% in polling as well.
Saxby Chambliss 48%
Vernon Jones 31%