Contrasting styles in Republican Senate race

Savannah Morning News ^ | 05/26/04 | Larry Peterson

[Maurice1962]

Contrasting styles in Republican Senate race

Mainstays of the debate circuit, the Republican U.S. Senate candidates are staunch conservatives.

Larry Peterson 912.652.0367 larry.peterson@savannahnow.com

Mac Collins and Herman Cain have become the Republican Odd Couple of the U.S. Senate race.

U.S. Rep. Johnny Isakson, also seeking the GOP nomination to the seat Democrat Zell Miller is giving up, has skipped most of the candidates' debates held so far.

So at debate after debate, Collins, a middle Georgia congressman, and Cain, a McDonough businessman, have been the fixtures, usually without Isakson. So it was Monday, when 200 people showed up to hear them at Skidaway Island Methodist Church.

Both are about as conservative as they can get.

They spoke out for free enterprise, against abortion, for President Bush's policies in Iraq, against federal involvement in education, for tax reform and against the "liberal media."

But there the similarity ends.

Mac Collins Candidate for U.S. Senate, Ga. Scott Bryant Savannah Morning News Cain wants to go to Washington to shake things up.

Collins says he's been shaping them up. And he wants to do it some more.

Collins said he's proud of the Republican revolution that began with the GOP takeover of the House in 1994 and led to tax cuts and welfare reform. Cain says the revolution has succumbed to wasteful pork-barrel legislation and posh perks for congressional leaders.

While Cain confidently speaks of the need for "bold leadership," Collins talks more humbly of serving constituents and "respecting their requests."

Their contrasting styles and leadership approaches could be worth watching.

Although Isakson is considered the frontrunner, many expect him to fall short of the majority needed to win the nomination in the July 20 primary. If he does, at least one half of the Odd Couple will be in an Aug. 9 runoff.

Runoffs are quirky, so it's at least conceivable that Cain or Collins will be the GOP nominee - and maybe even Georgia's next U.S. senator.

Cain leaves no doubt about what he'd like to do with the job.

Georgia candidate for U.S. Senate Herman Cain. John Carrington Savannah Morning News An eloquent speaker and sometimes Baptist preacher, he prides himself on having turned around sagging operations at Burger King and Godfather's Pizza.

He sees an economy mired in the goo of an archaic tax code, hamstrung by regulations, and federal government bled by special-interest subsidies.

"I represent a passion for change," he said Monday in a booming voice. "I want to shake things up. I represent bold leadership ... I want to face problems, identify solutions and implement bold solutions."

Although he supports many of the same solutions, Collins' stump speech is more a recitation of his resume.

Instead of Cain's vision, he stresses "straight talk ... and good common sense."

He talks about serving on the Butts County Commission, in the state Senate and the U.S. House, of tax-cut bills passed, and how he won in Muscogee County in 2000 and President Bush lost there - by 9,000 votes.

"The proof is in the pudding," he says. "There's a lot to government that you learn from experience. It's different from running a business. You can just replace experience with good sound bites. ... It's no time ... to send someone without the experience."

If Collins has an edge on experience, clearly Cain had one Monday on sound bites.

The big applause line of the night was one Cain has used repeatedly - and sometimes to standing ovations.

He praised Bush for having "the courage to take the war to the terrorists rather than waiting for the terrorists to bring the war back to us one more time."

Collins seemed to digress when asked about cancer research, launching himself into a lengthy discussion of tax legislation.

Cain was more direct: Since most money for research comes from private donations, people will have more to donate if they are taxed less, he said.

When it came time for each to say why he supported Israel, Cain said, "because it is the shining light of freedom and democracy in that part of the world."

Collins' response was, "I believe the Good Book tells us to look after Israel."

But Collins, a high school graduate and long-time small businessman who likes to quip that he attended "UHK" or the "University of Hard Knocks," had a zinger of his own.

When asked how he'd like to serve in the Senate if Democratic candidate John Kerry is elected president, Collins grimaced, then quipped, "This is a house of worship."

After the laughter faded, he added. "We all have to pray that it doesn't happen."

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Bios

Name: Michael "Mac" Collins

Age: 59

Born: Flovilla, Ga.

Resides: Jackson

Education: graduated from Jackson High School

Career: Started his own trucking business at age 18. Served on Butts County Commission and in State Senate. Elected to U.S. House in 1992.

Platform: Wants major overhaul of tax system; opposes abortion; supports President Bush's policy in Iraq; rights of gun owners; reining in frivolous litigation.

Running against: McDonough businessman Herman Cain, U.S. Rep. Johnny Isakson.

Name: Herman Cain

Age: 58

Born: Memphis

Resides: McDonough

Education: B.A. in Mathematics, Moorehouse College; Master's of Science, Purdue University

Career: Former chairman, president and CEO of Godfather's Pizza Inc.; former chairman, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association; former member of National Commission on Economic Growth and Tax Reform.

Platform: Wants major overhaul of tax system, health care insurance and social security, opposes abortion, supports President Bush's policy in Iraq, rights of gun owners.

Running against: U.S. Reps. Johnny Isakson and Mac Collins

[Vigilanteman]

Either of these guys would be way better than Johnny Isakson. I prefer Cain's kick-ass style, though, because that is exactly what the spineless party needs.

[Texas_Dawg]

Go Cain.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Right on to Cain. I think sending a Black Conservative to the U.S. Senate would be such a coup. I'm not a native Georgian - and have only been in the South for the last ten years. I'm stunned by the number of things that people in the rest of the country believe about the South in general, and Georgia in particular, which are flat out untrue. I think the contrast between what the South truly is and what the rest of the country mistakenly believes couldn't be shown any better than by a Herman Cain victory. Here's one Woodstock vote for Herman.

[beaureguard]

Cain bump!

[NewLand]

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