Archive for the ‘U.S. House of Representative Race’ Category

Georgia political blogger Jim Walls has taken a look at all of the millions pouring into Georgia races from political action committees -  $8.4 million to Georgia candidates this year through September.

Pundits predict a wave of anti-incumbency sentiment—fueled by tea parties, voters’ disgust with Washington and other factors — will sweep the nation tomorrow.

That could happen in Georgia, but the folks who finance much of the political campaigning here are gambling millions of dollars that it won’t.

We downloaded those donations from a state database to take a closer look at where that money wound up. None of the findings will surprise anyone who follows Georgia politics or campaign finance, but it never hurts to review.

Continue reading PAC money betting heavily on Georgia incumbents »

Georgia tea party activists are so concerned about the integrity of Tuesday’s election results that they plan to have volunteers serving as poll watchers. See AJC’s Craig Schneider’s article. Critics, however, say it’s a form of intimidation.

Political Insider’s Jim Galloway also reports Tea Party activists are livid over a ruling by Secretary of State Brian Kemp that shirts, hats and buttons with tea party logos won’t be allowed in polling places.

Continue reading Tea party activists to be poll watchers; Sec. of State says no to logos »

Given the importance of Tuesday’s election, many are concerned about the integrity of the results. Now comes an AJC/Channel 2 exclusive in which state elections officials acknowledge some people who will be voting may not be eligible to do so because they aren’t citizens:

The Secretary of State’s Office, which oversees Georgia’s voter rolls, does not know how many noncitizens are registered to vote. But state officials acknowledged there are some. And an Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Channel 2 WSB-TV investigation found noncitizens who have voted. (Also watch the exclusive on Channel 2)

Tea party activists are so concerned about the problem and other potential abuses at the polls Tuesday that they plan to have poll watchers on hand. See AJC’s Craig Schneider’s article. But Political Insider’s Jim Galloway reports activists are livid over a ruling by Secretary of State Brian Kemp that shirts, hats and buttons with tea party logos won’t be allowed in polling …

Continue reading AJC exclusive: Some noncitizens registered to vote in Georgia »

When people are frustrated, cash-strapped and fearful, wouldn’t they be inclined to reject whoever is in power? And when they are securely employed, well-paid and watching their home value soar and their portfolio bulge, wouldn’t they be more likely to accept the status quo?

These are questions AJC’s Michael E. Kanell poses in a piece about the quagmire Democrats find themselves in because of the lackluster economy.

Yet, Kanell reports,  a look at the history says the economy-electoral link is not always so tight.

Continue reading It’s the economy, stupid, but not always in elections »

In less than 24 hours we’ll go to the polls to cast votes in what many consider to be one of the biggest mid-term elections in recent memory.

The polls will open at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 7 p.m.

If you don’t know where you’re suppose to vote, just  click on this Voter Guide link. Also remember that you must show photo identification.

Tuesday’s weather outlook: Cloudy; 30% chance of light rain or drizzle; lows near 50 in town, 40s in the suburbs; highs in the upper 50s to low 60s; winds east 10-15 mph. But we won’t let a little drizzle stop us, will we?

On the ballot: Georgia voters will choose a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state schools superintendent, agriculture commissioner, insurance commissioner, labor commissioner and a public service commissioner; representatives of all 13 congressional districts; a U.S. senator; the entire state General Assembly – senators and representatives; statewide and state superior court …

Continue reading In less than 24 hours, Georgians go to the polls »

Georgia’s paperless electronic voting process and systems in five other states have gained the attention of an election watchdog group. In a ComputerWorld article on e-voting, the Verified Voting Foundation says states relying on paperless machines will have a hard time auditing the results, which, the group says, are vulnerable to tampering.

Voter-marked paper ballots that are scanned and tallied by electronic systems, along with paper copies of electronically cast votes, together give election officials a reliable way to verify the accuracy of tallies,  [said the watdog group's president, Pamela Smith]. “Paper enables the properties of recounting that we need right now,” Smith said.

But Merle King, executive director of the Center for Election Systems, says Georgia’s system is safe and disputes the watchdog group’s concerns. CES is a venture between Georgia’s secretary of state’s office and Kennesaw State University.

“I think the notion that electronic systems are not …

Continue reading Debate over Georgia’s paperless e-voting process continues »

Augusta was a hot spot this week for Republicans hoping to mark big wins next Tuesday. The Augusta Chronicle reports candidates from the top of the ticket on down discussed jobs,  “but mostly the importance of turning the entire state of Geogia red.”

“We’re going to take Georgia and America back,” said Congressman Paul Broun at the Republican Georgia Bus Tour. “I believe very firmly that every single constitutional office in the state of Georgia is going to be Republican after this election.”

On the jobs front, metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate dipped a little last month. See the article here.

Continue reading Georgia Republicans seeing red next Tuesday »

Follow the latest tweets from Georgia’s campaign trail @ajcgaelections

You’ve already heard about the large number of Georgians turning out to vote early as Nov. 2 nears.

Just in case you want to get in on the action before this Friday’s deadline but don’t know where to go, the secretary of state’s office has a tool that allows you to find early voting sites, which aren’t necessarily the same as your regular polling place. Just click here to start.

Continue reading Find your polling place for early voting in Georgia »

Follow the latest tweets from Georgia’s campaign trail @ajcgaelections

Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom coalition is dipping for the first time into Georgia politics. Reed’s comeback organization has launched a $500,000 radio ad campaign targeting 18 House and Senate races.

In Georgia, the Faith and Freedom Coalition will join Republicans in the effort to unseat U.S. Reps. Jim Marshall, D-Macon, and Sanford Bishop, D-Albany. Listen to the anti-Marshall ad here – “It’s us versus them.” And the anti-Bishop ad here: “Bishop doesn’t get it.”

Get an insider’s take on Georgia’s political scene from Jim Galloway’s Political Insider blog

Continue reading Ralph Reed buying radio ads targeting Georgia races »

Follow the latest tweets from Georgia’s campaign trail @ajcgaelections

Washington political blogger Jamie Dupree is providing a state-by-state look at congressional races as  the Nov. 2 election nears, and here are his observations about two key races in Georgia:

GEORGIA – This state has had little change in its congressional delegation in recent years, but this year could be different, as Republicans hope to take two seats from the Democrats.  In GA-8, Rep. Jim Marshall has been a frequent target of the GOP, but he always finds a way to win his conservative district that features Macon and central Georgia.  This time, Republicans think Marshall is already toast, pointing at a poll last week that had him trailing by double digits.

The other district in the sights of Republicans is GA-2 in southwest Georgia, where Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA) has been in this seat since Bill Clinton’s victory in 1992.  Republicans often talk about how they are going to knock out Bishop as …

Continue reading Update: GOP seeking Daily Double with wins over Reps. Jim Marshall and Sanford Bishop »