GEORGIA U.S. SENATE RACE: Observations from the Gwinnett County Debate

My wife and I got to the event two hours early. To pass the time, we casually walked around the parking lot and met people coming for the debate. At that time we counted around 30 vehicles with Isakson stickers and around 12 with Cain stickers. Evidently Isakson's supporters were enthusiastic to see their candidate in a debate given the fact that this was to be his first appearance at one out of a total of three in the last two weeks (Johnny was absent at Cobb and Cherokee counties).

We entered the lobby and the first candidate table was that of Johnny Isakson's. Scratch the "enthusiastic" comment I made earlier. These guys looked like they were all hired hands. Stiff, somber and unwelcoming. With multiple events going on at the Gwinnett Center that night, I almost asked one of them if this was the funeral home director convention.

We walked by the Mac Collins and Herman Cain tables and from both we were pleasantly greeted. As time passed by, more people seemed to hover around these two tables. The Cain and Collin’s supporters were clearly more social with each other. The Isakson people tended to stand against the wall looking on.

With about an hour before debate time, Herman Cain walks into the lobby. Fifty people surround him. He talks and listens to some of his supporters. He then gives a short speech which finished with loud applause. Chants of "Cain Cain Cain" echo down the halls of the Gwinnett Center. One of the things he was asked was why he thought it was possible that he could become the next Georgia Senator. He told a story of how the bumble bee was not supposed to fly based on the laws of aero dynamics and physics. “It’s body is too heavy, it’s wing’s are too small, it’s not supposed to be possible” he said. “No one told the bumble bee that it could not fly” he added. This campaign certainly has the buzz.

Unbeknown to me, Mac Collins had entered the lobby at the same time. He hovered around his supporters and stayed and listened to what many of them had to say.

A few minutes later, Johnny Isakson enters the lobby. He greeted a few people. There was no applause, no cheer, no anything. You wouldn't have known he was there. He almost ran through the lobby as if he was a nervous teenager that was late for the prom.

As the debate was about to get underway, we noticed the odd seating arrangements. Each campaign was designated their own sections. The Gwinnett County party managed to place the Isakson supporters right in front of the TV cameras with the Cain and Collins areas to either side. Gwinnett local access TV was recording the event and this was to be shared with CSPAN. WSB radio also recorded the event. Upon closer observation, there was as much (if not more) Cain supporters there as there were Isakson supporters. Collins fans were definitely third.

Johnny Isakson was introduced as "the honorable Congressman” and they failed to do the same introduction for Collins.

Throughout the debate, the Collins and Cain supporters showed a good amount of solidarity. Clearly showing the conservatives in the race.

At one point moderator Dick Williams said that in campaign literature and advertisements, Mac Collins called Johnny Isakson a moderate. When asked to expand on that, Mac Collins said “If the name fits, wear it”.

There was no denial from Isakson on this statement, more like "I've been called that before and I won back then". Isakson and Collins go at it again for a little while longer about “conservative” and “moderate”.

Herman Cain steps in amongst the bickering. “I will tell you how to spell conservative" he says. "C-A-I-N" he said receiving loud applause.

Collins and Isakson explained that they were for lower taxes. Herman Cain responded firmly saying “With all due respect to my opponents, they are a part of the status quo. They are career politicians, I am a career problem solver. They described ways to put a band-aid on our tax problem. We don’t need to do that. We need to replace it with the Fair Tax”.

When asked if the Fair Tax was a realistic goal in the next ten years, all three candidates agreed. Herman Cain then slam dunked his opponents. “I am glad to hear you say that you support this" he said "but what is taking so long?" he added to loud applause.

Exiting the Gwinnett Center, Cain's people were handing out literature on the rights of the unborn and on the Fair Tax. As I was approached by one of those people she reached her hand out to give me the literature. I pointed at my fresh new Herman Cain sticker, raised my fist in the air and said "I am a believer!"

>I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you have the right take on this.<

It is somewhat biased.He has acurately quoted everything Cain said.The problem is these one-liners were about all he said . Collins and Isakson were able to discuss all the issues with substance.Cain was energetic but his answer to everything was the fair tax.

On the base closing issue Cain says don't do it.(physically responsible?)Collins says we need to do it .Isakson says he has sponsored an amendment to continue with the review in Europe and postpone till 2007 in USA.

Dick Williams asked if the Fair Tax really had a chance of passing anytime soon.Cain dodged and Isakson talked about a law to end the tax code as we know it on a "date certain"(2007 I believe).This has passed the house but not the Senate.

Cain has a great future if he will do his homework on the day to day issues.He has a great philosophy but has not articulated any programs or ideas.I wonder if he would enjoy the work of being a Senator or if he just wants to pontificate.

Cain has momentum, he has made the necessary connections with the counties. He's labored tirelessly 6 and sometimes 7 days a week.

The key will be keeping his coalition motivated in the end to go vote. I don't think this will be a problem since his supporters are activists.

Key will be North and South Georgia. Both he seems to be doing well in. In the Southeast St. Simon's area, he is out pacing both of his competitors in fund raising. This area is squarely Cain's. They like his spirit and intellect. Middle Georgia was supposed to be Collins territory but that fizzled by December. Cain is being supported by most of the county chairmen in Middle Georgia. I am a Vice Chairman in Bibb. Isakson has been here once.

The Metro area I would have to give to Isakson. If you look at the money Isakson has scooped it all up. I do not believe the black community is going to come out and support him.

What needs to be done in the next two months is some guerilla marketing (real grassroots labor) 30 days out he has got to unleash more ads.

Should Cain win, it will change the dynamics of the Georgia Republican Party. I don't know if some in our leadership are ready to give up their power, but it is time. Cain has been effective in expanding the base without compromising our conservative values.

Thanks for the update and do stay positive. As in AArnold, it certainly helps a whole bunch to have personality and charm as I think Cain does. How's he doing money-wise? That's so important. Help me with the polls if you get any as I'm always looking for positive info to report to my Current Events group. Is Zel helping any of the candidates or is he only helping get Democraps for Bush which is very important as well?

Can't speak for GWB and Rove, but I don't believe this will happen here like in PA

I can't either, but I do know GWB and Rove are committed to building our majorities on the Hill. To that end, they have been very involved in candidate recruitment. Part of that process involves talking sometimes reluctant candidates to take the plunge, assuring them of support once they win the primary, and quietly trying to clear the field for them so they don't get battered in a tough primary.

All of this puts a premium on candidates who are willing to commit early and -- very importantly -- who look "winnable" early on. Unfortunately, it also works against relatively unknown candidates who come on strong in the later stages as they build name ID and generate a buzz.

The line on Isakson all along has been that he is the safe bet, a fellow who can unite the Party and who is a likely winner. The line on Cain is that everyone loves him but that his nomination would represent a major risk in a presumptive pickup situation because -- well, because he's a black man in Georgia, and that scrambles the picture. At any rate, that's a risk factor. Cf. Bobby Jindal. Sad but true.

I'd vote for Cain if I lived down there, but I can understand how so much of the party establishment got committed to Isakson early on.

Cain has matched Isakson in campaign donations in the last quarter.

I disagree on your assessment on the metro area. Isakson is NOT going to wipe up. I see real momentum in Forsyth, Hall and Cherokee counties in north metro Atl. Also the very populated North Fulton and Cobb counties have a lot of Cain support and because they also have a lot of Isakson haters for various reasons.

Club for Growth will release some ad's for Cain before too long as well as him having his own.

Bartell is not running as a Republican so he is out of this race. This will help.

One of the things evident at the debate the other night was the conservative base. Collins and Cain people mingled and agreed on supporting the conservative in the run off. It was clear in the debate (based on applause for what was said) as well as outside the debate.

When we keep Isakson below 50% in July 20th, conservatives will unite behind the one last standing conservative.

His name is CAIN!

"Unfortunately, it also works against relatively unknown candidates who come on strong in the later stages as they build name ID and generate a buzz."

With three candidates running (2 conservatives), this will help to keep Isakson below 50%. One conservative (Collins) is negatively attacking Isakson and Isakson loses support from it and actually Cain gets the benefit out of it. Isakson is underestimating Cain - they both are. Collins and Isakson's websites attack each other.

"The line on Cain is that everyone loves him but that his nomination would represent a major risk in a presumptive pickup situation because -- well, because he's a black man in Georgia, and that scrambles the picture. At any rate, that's a risk factor. Cf. Bobby Jindal. Sad but true."

Racists don't tend to vote in primaries. When Cain wins the Republican nomination, he will most likely be running against a black Democrat. Racist's will skip the race. Cain wins. Georgia wins. America wins. Racism loses.

Some of the party establishment types are and will be surprised at Cain's support. They are changing.

If you are complaining about Cain lacking substance, please tell us how Collins and Johnny said anything with more substance?

I care more about their judgment than detailed plans. We are not electing a president, we are electing a member of a 100 seat body. Cain is convincing and has the right ideas. That combination will do more to further the conservative cause than spouting off legislative jargon to sound important.

When Cain wins the Republican nomination, he will most likely be running against a black Democrat. Racist's will skip the race. Cain wins. Georgia wins. America wins. Racism loses.

I would love to see that. The humble point I was making above was merely that I can understand why the Party establishment by and large lined up with Isakson. A year ago, if you were looking for the surest bet to pick up a Republican Senate seat in Georgia, the conventional wisdom said Isakson. Any number of conversations were held and commitments made on that basis. If Cain wins the primary, the Party poohbahs will rally behind him -- and given Cain's views and record, they will do it enthusiastically -- but a lot of people have prior commitments in the other direction.

This is not unique to Cain, of course. Any newcomer running against two incumbent congressmen will face the same dynamic. The party regulars will be lined up with the known quantity.

If the Saturday night debate was the basis on which the average voters chose the candidates.Isakson and Collins would split 80% of the vote.This is because they discussed bread and butter issues.Transportation funds,Base closings and education.Cain stuck to the fair tax.Very few voters have ever heard of it.I spoke with the Pastor of a large Evangelical Church in Atlanta.He is important enough that he has met with Isakson and has an appointment scheduled with Cain.When I mentioned the Fair tax it drew a blank with him.it is not even on his radar screen.This would be the case with most Republican voters at this time.He also knew nothing about Collins.The Boortz listeners and "true believers" vote on "great philosophies".The average voter wants to know about traffic congestion in Atlanta,will Ft. Stewart or Ft.Gilliam be closed and permanent tax cuts.Cain did not appear to care about these issues in the debate.

The interesting thing was I noticed several Cain supporters near me nodding with many of the points Collins and Isakson made on issues.They cheered Cains one-liners but listened and agreed with many of the bread and butter i points made by Collins and Isakson.(Collins gave a great explanation of the current deficit problem and why just yelling cut the budget is a over simplification of the problem)

You mean the bread and butter ideas Collins and Isakson discussed about how we can pork our way to prosperity? If I remember correctly, Collins was a big supporter of the highway budget massacre.

Its easy to tell someone that THEY should cut THEIR program, but if you are not willing to give up your own, you are a laughing stock with no credibility. No wonder these buffoons have not done anything in Congress about tax reform and balancing the budget. Collins should learn something from former budget committee chairman John Kasich, who was the real architect of the balance budget, and would refuse pork for his own district.

Isakson gave lip service to getting a larger percentage of another percentage back in some funding formula. My question is why is this money taken in the first place? If a state wants the road, the state can raise the money for it, instead of using highways as a jobs program paid for by states with weak Congressional delegations. Then maybe Johnny Boy would not have to worry about people playing politics in washington with funding.

Collins and Isakson showed the problem with allowing people to become professional politicians. Cain is a clear alternative.

Herman Cain steps in amongst the bickering. “I will tell you how to spell conservative" he says. "C-A-I-N" he said receiving loud applause.

Cain is an American hero...at least 1/3 personally responsible for the death of Hillary Health Care. Why he isn't running away with this I cannot possibly fathom.

That's good.Cain can spend the next 10 or 15 years selling the fair tax.In the meantime we can refuse to get the gasoline tax Ga. Drivers have payed and let our roads an infrastructure collapse.That will be great for the Georgia economy.

As Collins said you can't do away with a $500 billion deficit when the non-defense discretionary budget is $700 Billion.This deficit is not a spending problem it is a revenue problem.Tax collections are down 25% over the past 2 years.(recession)Extra spending on Homeland security accounts for the rest.Bush's tax cuts and the extra defense spending are probably all that kept us from depression after 911.If everyone agreed on the fair tax tomorrow it would not effect the economy until at least 2007.

Theories are great but we have to live in the real world.The passage of the fair tax will not be affected one "wit" by which republican we elect.Electing a "show horse" who has no interest in or understanding of the day to day work of legislating could be fatal.

Just because you are in love with the big spending status quo, doesn't mean the rest of us are. You didn't even understand Mac's point. I expect no less from the Pastel Republicans that support Isakson. He said the 700 Million was discretionary spending. "Entitlements" are not discretionary, they are in the 1.7 Trillion part. That is where the problem is. Maybe Mac doesn't even understand this. It is clear Isakson doesn't. Go ahead, blessed, and help Isakson get elected. I think enough of us know that Georgia deserves better.

>"Entitlements" are not discretionary, they are in the 1.7 Trillion part. That is where the problem is<

I see now.You want to cut my 85 year old mothers Social Security and Medicare.We should definitely cut the pensions for veterans.That is what the $1.7 billion is.If that is Cains policy he is the only Republican that could loose to the democrat in Ga. this time.

"I wonder if he would enjoy the work of being a Senator or if he just wants to pontificate."

The first question I would ask you is; Are you satisfied with the "day-to-day" work being done in the Senate by the Republican majority today?

If your answer is YES, then you should vote for Isakson.

If your answer is NO, then you cannot expect any fundamental change with Isakson, so you should vote for Cain, or you remain unstaisfied.

Cain, and more candidates like him will change the attitude of the Senate from "day-to-day" work to problem solving. I don't see Cain as pontificating, I see him as pointing out the obvious shortcomings and saying "We can fix this stuff".

I believe in that, and I believe in him. In addition to that, he is right on all the key issues:
-Defense/WOT
-Taxes
-Spending
-Moral issues (abortion, prayer, etc)

Go Herman Go! Pray for Herman Cain!

Click Here for the Herman Cain for US Senate Web Site

well, because he's a black man in Georgia, and that scrambles the picture.

Flat wrong.

That is more true or more likely in the North. Must be where you live? I have lived in both, I know the difference.

>The first question I would ask you is; Are you satisfied with the "day-to-day" work being done in the Senate by the Republican majority today?<

One more gas bag will not change the Senate.Cain will not cast one vote that Collins or Isakson would not on key issues.If you want to change the Senate get 10 states other than Ga. to elect Republicans.

The day to day work of the senate is problem making and problem solving.Cain was part of a 1 1/2 hour debate Saturday night.He did not deal with any " issue that will effect me or my family in the next 6 years.He is long on philosophy but shows no interest in the everyday problems of Georgians.Hopefully he will learn from this race,do his homework and become a good candidate for future offices.He will probably have the highest name recognition when it comes time to run against Cox for Lt.Gov. in 2006.He could be the key to helping get Perdue relected.

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