Some see Collins faltering in GOP Senate bid [Go Cain!]

ATLANTA - Six-term U.S. Rep. Mac Collins has surprised a lot of people in his bid for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, but maybe not quite the way he intended.

With the campaign in its last 10 days, he is dead last in fund-raising among the three GOP candidates for the seat of retiring Sen. Zell Miller, and until his TV ads began airing this weekend, he had forfeited that medium to rivals Johnny Isakson and Herman Cain.

Collins insisted Friday he's "in good shape" and will peak exactly when he plans - July 20, election day.

"My sense is, things are not going well for that campaign," said University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock. "I wouldn't be surprised to see him finish third."

"I've been surprised at his low visibility," said Rusty Paul, a former chairman of the state Republican Party and Isakson supporter. "I think Mac is operating on the theory you can win races in Georgia still with grass roots campaigns ... but it's a much more difficult race to win."

Early on, the race looked to be a contest between two incumbent congressman - Collins, who has been in Washington since 1992, and Isakson, who won a special election in 1999 to replace Newt Gingrich and who had run two statewide races before.

Out of nowhere came Herman Cain, former CEO of Godfather's Pizza and political neophyte who dazzled audiences with the skills he honed as a motivational speaker. He is the first black to seek a statewide office in Georgia under the GOP banner since Reconstruction.

With the race now winding down, Isakson leads in fund-raising, Cain is second and Collins is third, and some think that's the way the race will end, with the only question whether Isakson and Cain will meet in a runoff.

"We're running a very positive campaign that's far from being over or a flop or a dud," Collins said. "You'll see that July 20."

"His failure to achieve any momentum is not because there's anything inherently wrong with Mac Collins, his philosophy or ideas. He just waited late to get into the race, doesn't have the resources and he assumed he would inherit the right flank. But every day he's had to compete with Herman Cain for the right flank and he hasn't been able to nail that down."

The political arm of the anti-abortion group Georgia Right to Life gave an equal endorsement to Collins and Cain, who allow only one exception for abortion - to preserve the life of the mother. Isakson would also allow exceptions for rape and incest, a position unacceptable to that group.

In addition, Collins' campaign has experienced an unusual amount of staff turnover. He's now operating with his fourth campaign manager and his second press secretary, both brought down from his Washington staff.

"It's generally not thought to be a good thing to have turmoil on your staff," said political scientist Bullock.

"I wouldn't go so far to say it was 'turmoil,'" said Dan Kidder, the campaign's new press secretary. "I would say 'creative differences.'"

He explained: "U.S. Rep. Collins is not one who will be managed. He's been a successful businessman, a very successful leader in Congress ... the only person who's going to manage Mac Collins is Mac Collins."

All that aside, Kidder said Collins has quietly assembled a huge grass roots network that will take the state by surprise on July 20. "Mac Collins is an expert on grass roots campaigning ... people have underestimated him before."

Paul said Gov. Sonny Perdue's victory two years ago shows it is possible to win a statewide campaign with a grass roots campaign, "but everything has to go right."

And one important factor is missing now that helped lift Perdue to victory, Paul said.

"Two years ago you had a very unpopular incumbent. There was a lot of pent-up anger and frustration. In this case, it doesn't exist."

Hi guys from a Mac supporter. Now I am not against Herman, but I did want to say I sure know Mac is grassroots and I've got the chigger bites on my legs to prove it! We've got a great group of folks working hard for Mac locally. Any event I go to I meet with more. I know Herman has got grassroots people too, but Mac has definitely got things going in that area. I volunteer my time for this. Like a lot of you, I've never gotten involved in a campaign, but just like you, I see the importance of this Senate seat NOT going to a moderate/liberal. Even though I have lots to keep me busy with caring for my children fulltime, I am committed to seeing this through and doing all I can do help Mac (and then whichever pro-life candidate makes the run-off). I used to be a staffer for Mac and saw firsthand the long hours and hard work he put in for his constituents. Also his unwavering stand on being pro-life. I like that he has a 12+ year track record we can look at to know how he would vote.

Anyway, it's great to converse with pro-life Republicans (like all Republicans should be!).

Cain and Collins are right to highlight the difference on the abortion issue with Isakson, and the pro-life community is right to make this a political dividing line. Would you use this same logic if one party or candidate believed it was acceptable, as Princeton ethicist Peter Singer recommended, to confer personhood on a child only 7 days after birth, giving parents a week to decide whether the child should live? Surely we would all agree that such a political should not be supported, no matter how good his positions on other issues. We need a very clear stand on the abortion issue, and though this may make us appear narrow-minded to some, human life is too precious to give up ground on this matter for the sake of appearing unified, tolerant, etc... I say this all respectfully and I hope it gives you some food for thought. When I was younger, before I had really researched the issue, I kind of thought, well, abortion is really bad, but maybe it's more of a private issue - the exact kind of squishy thinking Isakson holds to and that gave us Roe v. Wade and 30+ million lives lost. But as I studied the issue from a medical, philosophical and spiritual viewpoint I came to see that we must be 100% pro-life (as are Mac and Herman) and not allow the government or any politician to place a lesser value on the unborn because of either their stage of development or the circumstances of their conception.

Let me know if this was helpful and what your thoughts are!

I appreciate your efforts for Mac. What I have told supporters of the various candidats is to give it their all. In the end you will enjoy your victory or at least feel you've done your best.

Too many people do not get involved and only gripe. Election time is the time to either put up or shut up.

Whoever wins in the end has my support. I believe wholeheartedly in Herman Cain. I've spent a lot of time with him. I've organized events, networked via email and snail mail, beat on doors, posted signs and bumper stickers and given of my time, talent and resources.

On July 21st I know I have done my dead level best and feel good about the results.

Cain's candidacy has been nothing more than a revival for conservatives in this state. He has shaken the doors of the political heirarchy.

I'm honored to be supporting him.

As you all probably know, tomorrow Tuesday, July 20 is primary day in Georgia, and black conservative Herman Cain is facing conservative Congressman Mac Collins and pro-abortion Congressman Johnny Isakson in the Republican Senate primary. We need every Georgia conservative, whether they support Herman Cain or Mac Collins, to go to the polls on Tuesday the 20th and make sure that the pro-abortion Johnny Isakson does not get 50%+1 of the vote, thus forcing him into a run-off that he will not win. Please ping everyone whom you feel may be interested in the primary, and contact all of your friends and family in Georgia and remind them to go and vote for Herman Cain (or Mac Collins, if you back Mac). We can't afford to have anyone shirking tomorrow. I am reminded of the words of Dr. Seuss, writing about that great Republican Horton the Elephant, when he pointed out how we must all do our part if we are to accomplish great things:

And Horton called back, “I can hear you just fine.
But the kangaroos’ ears aren’t as strong, quite, as mine.
They don’t hear a thing! Are you sure all you boys
Are doing their best? Are they ALL making noise?
Are you sure every Who down in Who-ville is working?
Quick! Look through your town! Is there anyone shirking?”

Through the town rushed the Mayor, From the east to the west.
But everyone seemed to be doing his best.
Everyone seemed to be yapping or yipping!
Everyone seemed to be beeping or bipping!
But it wasn’t enough, all this ruckus and roar!
He HAD to find someone to help him make more.
He raced through each building! He searched floor-to-floor!

And, just as he felt he was getting nowhere,
And almost about to give up in despair,
He suddenly burst through a door and that Mayor
Discovered one shirker! Quite hidden away
In the Fairfax Apartments (Apartment 12-J)
A very small, very small shirker named Jo-Jo
was standing, just standing, and bouncing a Yo-Yo!
Not making a sound! Not a yipp! Not a chirp!
And the Mayor rushed inside and he grabbed the young twerp!

And he climbed with the lad up the Eiffelberg Tower.
“This,” cried the Mayor, “is your town's darkest hour!
The time for all Whos who have blood that is red
To come to the aid of their country!” he said.
“We’ve GOT to make noises in greater amounts!
So, open your mouth, lad! For every voice counts!”

Thus he spoke as he climbed. When they got to the top,
The lad cleared his throat and he shouted out, “YOPP!”

And that Yopp…
That one small, extra Yopp put it over!
Finally, at last! From that speck on that clover
Their voices were heard! They rang out clear and clean.
And the elephant smiled. “Do you see what I mean?…
They’ve proved they ARE persons, no matter how small.
And their whole world was saved by the smallest of All!”

“How true! Yes, how true,” said the big kangaroo.
“And, from now on, you know what I’m planning to do?…
From now on, I’m going to protect them with you!”
And the young kangaroo in her pouch said…
“…ME, TOO!”
“From the sun in the summer. From rain when it’s fall-ish,
I’m going to protect them. No matter how small-ish!”

And like Horton, Herman Cain believes that a person's a person, no matter how small. And Herman Cain is not only 100% pro-life, he's a true conservative on every issue, being pro-gun, a strong supporter of the War on Terror and in favor of replacing the federal income tax with a national sales tax. So nobody shirk, and let's help send the pro-abortion Johnny Isakson back to his country club and make Herman Cain the first black Republican Senator since the 1970s. GO, CAIN, GO!

(P.S. I posted the Horton Hears A Who passage the day before the Pennsylvania Senate primary, and Pat Toomey came from behind to come within 1% of unseating the pro-abortion Arlen Specter. Hopefully, it will work even better this time.)

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