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!"

My point about the Metro area is that so many have invested in Isakson's campaign. If you check www.opensecrets.org its unbelievable the amount of money Isakson has collected from Atlanta. Its like 100 to 1. That makes networking all the more important. Cain is smart and well connected. He hasn't used his big cards yet.

I am willing to bet money Cain has a "shock and awe" in the works. I've heard the Forbes may be at the convention.
And, if you notice he and Kemp have not been visible since Cain's announcement. If they had, the welcome would have been worn out.

Cain is well organized with activists like ourselves. The 30 days before just watch.

I would love to see Cain win without a runoff.

You folks need to tone it down a bit.

"You have appointed yourself arbiters of who is and is not a good republican but refuse to support nominee of the party if he doesn't drink your koolaide."

So you would support Cain in November, should he win?

And you should listen. Cain has never proposed eliminating your 85 yr old mothers SSI. Quite the contrary. He is proposing to allow folks 10 yrs or longer from retirement opt for a personal retirement account in lieu of a monthly SSI check. For me this would allow me the opportunity to have a much more fluid investment at retirement and will eliviate the burden on future generations.

If you would read your SS statement it plainly says its going broke. You think they are lying to you or something???

Got to tell ya, Blessed, I briefed Herman Cain for over two hours on the subject of judicial nominations earlier this year. I have briefed many a Senator and many a candidate and without exception, Mr. Cain asked the most thoughtful questions. Most refreshing of all -- once he had a handle on the minutia of details in this issue, he asked the most salient question.....what is the solution, then?

And the briefing then dove into the "problem solving" aspects of the issue.

I was extremely impressed. Not only that he took the time to seek me out to discuss the issue, but that he had clearly done his homework before our discussion and asked relevant questions and wanted to solve the problem.

That would be a breath of fresh air in the Senate Republican Caucus, let me assure you.

>So you would support Cain in November, should he win? <

>And you should listen. Cain has never proposed eliminating your 85 yr old mothers SSI. <

And you should read the tread before you comment.I sated I would vote for Cain if he wins the primary.The only ones on these treads that have said they would not support the GOP nominee were Cain supporters.You note the deafening silence when the question was posed.

I never said Cain proposed eliminating my mothers SSI.I responded to edeal's idea we should be cutting entitlements to eliminate the $500 billion deficit.I would hope Cain has a better grasp on reality than that.

By the way I believe all of the Candidates support investment accounts as a solution to the long term problem.Collins and Isakson actually talked about it at the debate.As I remember Collins gave a good explanation of the problem.

Maurice,

Your points are valid and good. However, I volunteered for a local race two years ago (a north metro county). I know this is just local but...

One candidate:
1. mailed ten different county wide flyers to every home.
2. had TV time on state tv as well as local
3. large full page paper ad's in every edition
4. had large signs at every intersection. The incumbent created a scam out of his own interpretation of what happened to his challenger and hired a group of consultants to call 20% of the voters.
5. was incumbent commission chair
6. spent $150,000.

The other candidate:
1. had one flyer attached to every mail box
2. no tv time
3. little newspaper spots
4. just small yard signs
5. was a no one
6. spent $6k

In summary, grassroots won and money can't buy love. Guess which one I worked on :)

This is the way this north metro county is now (also the #1 most Republican in the state). Grassroots are Herman Cain.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.