Georgia and Southern politics

This wide-ranging political discussion covers the intensifying 2008 election cycle, with a focus on Georgia races and national trends, and features an extended interview with congressional candidate Bill Jones.

 The hosts begin by analyzing the Georgia U.S. Senate race between Jim Martin and Saxby Chambliss. They debate campaign strategy, particularly Martin’s limited advertising budget versus Chambliss’s multimillion-dollar spending. While Martin’s ads are seen as targeted and efficient, concerns are raised about whether he can stay competitive. Chambliss’s ads draw criticism for weak production values and awkward messaging, especially the emphasis on “God-given talent,” which the panel finds unconvincing and out of touch.

The conversation broadens to national Senate and House races, where Democrats are seen as still well-positioned despite tightening polls. Attention then shifts to the presidential race, where John McCain’s post-convention surge—driven largely by Sarah Palin—is discussed at length. The panel expresses concern about troubling poll trends for Barack Obama, particularly among white working-class Democrats and in swing states, while also questioning the reliability of some polling data. 

The second half of the program features guest Bill Jones, Democratic candidate for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District. Jones outlines his background as an Air Force veteran, Delta pilot, and business executive, emphasizing duty, service, and pragmatic problem-solving. He criticizes hyper-partisanship, supports expanding federal employee-style health insurance options to the public, and argues that Republicans have failed veterans through poor voting records. Jones describes a positive grassroots response to his centrist, future-focused campaign and frames the race as a choice between past politics and new leadership.

This episode takes place just after both national party conventions, marking the true start of the general election season. With Tim absent, Scott Akemon joins Catherine and David to analyze early post-convention polling, including several tight 42–42 surveys and others briefly showing McCain–Palin ahead. The hosts agree the race remains volatile, noting that 60 days is an eternity in politics and that polls may not reflect massive new voter registration, particularly in states like Georgia. 

The discussion compares the Democratic and Republican conventions, with the panel criticizing the GOP gathering as low-energy and backward-looking, aside from Sarah Palin’s speech. They argue Democrats succeeded by highlighting grassroots activists, young leaders, and “ordinary” Americans, while Republicans relied heavily on familiar figures like Rudy Giuliani. The group also reflects on how Democrats may have underestimated Palin by setting expectations too low.

Attention then shifts to Georgia politics. The hosts condemn Congressman Lynn Westmoreland’s use of racially charged language toward Barack and Michelle Obama, framing it as part of a troubling pattern. In contrast, they discuss State School Superintendent Kathy Cox’s positive national attention after winning $1 million on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? for Georgia schools, while debating whether such moments mask deeper education funding problems.

The featured guest, Mike Cantone of Take Back Georgia, joins to outline his organization’s mission to hold Republicans accountable. He details their radio ad campaign targeting Senator Saxby Chambliss over energy policy, oil industry ties, workers’ rights, and children’s health care. Cantone previews upcoming clean-energy, labor, and health-care campaigns, emphasizing professional messaging aimed at independents and swing voters ahead of November.

Georgia and Southern politics

Daily coverage of the convention from Denver

Daily coverage of the convention from Denver

Daily coverage of the convention from Denver

Daily coverage of the convention from Denver

We cover the South like Kudzu

We cover the South like Kudzu