Thurbert Baker to run for Senate from Georgia? (my title)

Roll Call ^ | May 8, 2003 | Lauren W. Whittington and Mark Preston

[AuH2ORepublican]

This is all I could read without subscribing to Roll Call. Has anybody heard anything else about Thurbert Baker running?

[AuH2ORepublican]

I fear Thurbert Baker could beat RINO Johnny Isakson. We need to get Congressman Jack Kingston to run.

[kcordell]

Don't count out Secretary of State Cathy Cox. She has future political aspirations but, I'm not sure what they are.

[Kuksool]

Thurbert baker has not given any indication that he will run for the Senate. Although RATS in D.C. want him to run. Feminists are encouraging Shirley Franklin, the Mayor of Atlanta, to run for Senate. Isakson could probably beat Shirley Franklin. However, a Baker vs. Isakson Senate match could be interesting. The outcome of that match up lies on the white rednecks of South Georgia. They would have to chose between an African-American and a Country Club RINO.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"However, a Baker vs. Isakson Senate match could be interesting. The outcome of that match up lies on the white rednecks of South Georgia."

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Which is why we need Jack Kingston to enter the race. He'd whip all comers in the general election.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"However, a Baker vs. Isakson Senate match could be interesting. The outcome of that match up lies on the white rednecks of South Georgia."

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Which is why we need Jack Kingston to enter the race. He'd whip all comers in the general election.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Sorry about the double post.

BTW, I don't think rednecks in South Georgia would have a problem voting for a black Democrat, since Congressman Sanford Bishop has won handily in a SW GA district with a white population of almost 60% and in which Bush received 53% of the vote in 2000 (pre-redistricting---he would have gotten 50% with the new lines). But South Georgia rednecks wouldn't take kindly to a liberal Democrat of any race---Barnes carried the South GA vote in 1998 by posing as a moderate (and was actually pro-gun, which helped), and Baker could more credibly claim to be a moderate than Franklin ever could.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Baker would be a strong candidate for the 'Rats, but the question still begs, are they willing to put a Black man on the ballot for a Senate seat ? I think there is strong reluctance to do this because they don't believe "Bubba" will pull the lever for him. Sure, they've done it for Attorney-General, and for Mike Thurmond, but this is a Senate seat. But, once again, when will Jack Kingston hear the clarion call ? Get your ass in the race, boy ! Gotta whip dat donkey !

[madprof98]

However, a Baker vs. Isakson Senate match could be interesting.

I know two voters in my household who would skip that one entirely. Right now, it looks as if the Republicans here in Georgia are going to let that seat stay in the Dem column--with a real Dem rather than Zell Miller occupying it.

[JohnnyZ]

I've been calling Thurbert Baker as the strongest potential Rat since the beginning. {Pats self on back}. He can't be a liberal because he's attorney general, and he gets respect because he's enforcing the law, and separates himself from the Al Sharpton law-breaking race-pimping stereotype at the same time.

[LdSentinal]

A couple of months ago Tom Daschle met with Baker asking him to think about running for Senate. However, if Baker chose to ran for Senate, he would be forced to relinquish his Attorney General position and Governor Perdue (R) would appoint his replacement. I don't think Baker would want to give up an incumbancy running as a black man for a Senate seat. Ditto Shirley Franklin. She's too liberal to win and she's seems to be committed to run for re-election as Atlanta's mayor in 05'.

The Democrats are looking at two feeasible white candidates: Former Secretary of State Lewis Massey and 1998 Senate candidate, businessman Michael Coles, who made his fortune by making cookies.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"However, if Baker chose to ran for Senate, he would be forced to relinquish his Attorney General position and Governor Perdue (R) would appoint his replacement."

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Wouldn't he be able to continue to hold office while running, and only have to resign if elected? And wouldn't Perdue's appointment be temporary and subject to a special election to fill the vacancy at AG? If Baker thinks he can win, I think he'll throw his hat into the ring regardless of the ramifications for the GA RAT Party.

In all these discussions, there is, as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would say, the dog that didn't bark. Where is former Governor Barnes in all this? Wouldn't he be able to whip Isakson 55%-45% by replicating his 1998 results (when nearly all of South Georgia was bright red Democrat on the electoral map)?

[JohnnyZ]

Barnes has already barked that he won't run.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Barnes has already barked that he won't run."

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Can he be believed? If he sees Isakson is going to get the nomination, he may try to get into the race.

[Republican Red]

Isakson is my Congressman. He inherited Newt's seat. He has kept the seat because he has an "R" following his name. He had failed to win a statewide race twice. I doubt 2004 would be any different.

I personally want Kingston to run. I think he would have a real shot at winning.

[Paul C. Jesup]

They would have to chose between an die-hard leftist urbanite African-American and a Country Club RINO.

white rednecks of South Georgia

So I take it, you'll yelled at the white rednecks of South Georgia, like me, no matter which way we vote.

Well things can change during the primary, need I remind you about what happened to Cynthia McKinney. God I loved voting against that witch.

By the way, Georgia Law states that a person from another political party (like the Republicans) can from in a primary held by a different party.

[GraniteStateConservative]

She and Taylor have said they won't run.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I'd donate to Baker's campaign to get him to run. It's easy to paint him with the Sharpton/Jackson brush for a federal election. It's like Ron Kirk in TX. Kirk could be elected to something like AG in TX probably. He had no shot at winning the Senate race.

[GraniteStateConservative]

We'd paint him as a liberal whether he was or not-- just like we did with Ron Kirk. Federal races like senator or president are viewed differently by voters in the South.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"I personally want Kingston to run. I think he would have a real shot at winning."

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Jack Kingston would win, no question. We just need to convince him to get into the race. I already e-mailed him about it, but he needs to hear from Georgia Republicans.