Posted on 09/25/2004 5:20:46 AM PDT by jpw01
In the campaign for the 3rd District congressional seat, Republican challenger Calder Clay emphasizes he's on the president's team. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga., prefers to cultivate an independent image.
The Macon Republican has brought a string of GOP heavy hitters to town, from Vice President Dick Cheney in July to Senate majority leader Bill Frist today, to show that he's on the same side as the presidential administration.
"Jim Marshall is embarrassed of his team," said Rufus Montgomery, campaign manager for Clay. Doug Moore, Marshall's spokesman, characterized him as "an independent voice for Middle Georgia." Marshall has repeatedly declined to say whether he will support Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry.
"Jim Marshall's on the Middle Georgia team before he's on any other team," Moore said.
Ben Hinson, a prominent Republican fund-raiser in Macon, said Clay is doing well by aligning himself with the current administration. He said Bush supporters have contributed more than $400,000 to the president's re-election campaign.
"The president's support in this area is going to be so strong," Hinson said. "People are going to say we need to send someone to Washington that's going to support the president."
Bo Harmon, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee in Washington, D.C., said the Republican party has identified the 3rd District race in Georgia as crucial to win.
"It's absolutely one of our top targeted races in the country," Harmon said. "It's in a Republican-leaning district, and Clay came in within an eyelash (of winning) last time."
Clay is one of maybe a dozen Republican challengers nationwide receiving serious assistance from the national organization, Harmon said. He said the congressional committee does everything from arranging for well-known Republican speakers to raising money, offering advice and helping get out the vote.
"I'm not at liberty to discuss our October strategy, but we're looking forward to helping Calder Clay win," Harmon said.
In contrast, Marshall prefers to go it alone when campaigning, occasionally invoking veterans' groups like he did earlier this week. Emil Runge, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Georgia, said Marshall has not sought outside influence in his campaign.
"He's willing to stand up for his own principles, same as folks like Sam Nunn," Runge said.
Chuck Byrd, an attorney from Taylor County who ran against Marshall in the 2002 congressional primary, scoffed at Clay's Republican connections, comparing it to bringing "show dogs to the fair."
"Bringing folks down from Washington, D.C., to the country doesn't amount to a hill of beans," Byrd said. "Country people are going to vote for the people they know."
Marshall could be deliberately distancing himself from prominent Democrats to appeal to more conservative voters in the district, said political scientist Patrick Novotny, an associate professor at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.
"It sounds like Jim Marshall is following the advice of (Sen.) Zell Miller, who sent out a memo advising Georgia Democrats to put some space between themselves and the national party," Novotny said.
A spokeswoman in Miller's Washington office said the retiring senator had no plans to campaign for anyone but Bush this year. Moore said Marshall was a conservative Democrat long before Miller sent out any memos.
Stacy Kerr, press secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington, D.C., said the national party is watching the 3rd District race, and they're confident in Marshall's campaign.
She would not say whether the DCCC would provide further assistance to Marshall.
Bringing in national party figures isn't always successful for congressional candidates, Novotny said.
"At the end of the day, voters want to see someone who's accessible and what they have done for their district," Novotny.
*ping*
But at best, it's good to supplement the campaign. If I was Clay, I wouldn't run as a Bush follower. I'd run as someone who is in touch with Middle Georgia's values, while tying national democrats to people like John Kerry, Dianne Feinswine, and Ted Kennedy.
Bush is a positive for Clay, but local campaigns trump national.
He's actually attacking Marshall for being too liberal, which Marshall is trying his hardest to hide. The big names coming down for Clay have been mostly to do fund raising, which they have accomplished quite well.
Clay and Marshall faced off in 2002. Clay ran a stumbling campaign in the beginning. But by the Autumn, he had visibly improved, and Marshall wound up winning by a mere 50.5% to 49.5%.
With Denise Majette running for Senate, Jim Marshall is safe. Majette will inspire heavy black turnout in Middle Georgia. The GA-03 is 40% African-American.
"Majette will inspire heavy black turnout in Middle Georgia."
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