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Posted on 05/02/2004 1:52:18 PM PDT by UlsterDavy
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE GWINNETT U.S. SENATE 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.
The best discussion of the night came on the issue of taxes.
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!"
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Go Herman Go! Pray for Herman Cain!
Click Here for the Herman Cain for US Senate Web Site
Who Is Herman Cain? He believes...
Herman Cain on Taxes...Start Over!
Very nice. It also appears Mr. Cain can "float like a butterfly and sting like a (bumble)bee."
I also want Cain to win because it may give momentum to Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, who is African-American, in his quest for the governorship in 2006. This is important because from all appearances Mr. Blackwell is the only non-RINO in the entire state's GOP leadership.
If by that you mean backstabbed by the national party in a primary, I fear that too.
The Ohio Party will not clear the field for Blackwell, but he will win the nomination in 2006 regardless.
Perfect summation, and why we need Herman Cain. Collins and Isakson are not bad guys; but they are tired old Republican retreads with the same old ideas. We need new ideas and fresh approaches to government- at local, state, and federal levels.
Can't speak for GWB and Rove, but I don't believe this will happen here like in PA bcz:
1. Spector is an incumbent Senator, Isakson is not.
2. POTUS usually campaign only for incumbents during a primary, if at all.
3. Georgia is not "in play"...it will go for Bush, and this seat will go to whoever the (R) nominee is...
TatieBug, I wish we had some poll numbers for you, but right now they aren't doing any polling that I'm aware of. Maybe the first of the week (after the first debate with Mr. self proclaimed "front runner" Johnny Isakson). The only two polls I saw were several weeks ago and were paid for by Isakson. Naturally he showed up as a strong first place. In the first one though Mac Collins was in second place, but in the last one Herman Cain was in second.
One thing is abundantly clear from my perspective. Herman Cain has all of the momentum and the other two look like balloons with a slow leak. Isakson and Collins both have the personality of sticks and as a legislator, Johnny Isakson is a pretty good ex Realtor.
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