Michael Thurmond to make Senate run against Johnny Isakson
State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, a Democrat, on Tuesday will announce his entrance into the U.S. Senate race against Republican Johnny Isakson.
Thurmond, one two remaining Democrats holding statewide office, had been spoken of as a candidate for lieutenant governor.
But many Democrats had expressed concern that a strong bid for governor could be affected by the lack of a strong candidate at the top of the ticket running against Isakson.
The entry of Thurmond, who is in charge of unemployment benefits for tens of thousands of Georgians looking for work, guarantees that the U.S. Senate race will carry a heavy emphasis on the economy.
R.J. Hadley, a novice candidate from Rockdale County, is currently the only announced Democrat.
We’re told that the courting of Thurmond by Democrats in Washington stepped up with Isakson’s recent back-to-back hospitalizations.
Isakson, 65, was hospitalized first for a bacterial infection, then for a potential blood clot in a leg. The senator says he now feels great, and is back to work.
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134 comments Add your comment
Doug
April 16th, 2010
1:23 pm
Michael Thurmond would like a great U.S. Senator!
Oh, first
BillS
April 16th, 2010
1:27 pm
Agreed. He’s bright, focused, knowledgeable and he has a strong campaign style. Suspect he can win Democratic primary, but so many voters in this state have little capacity for thinking through serious issues and voting intelligently that I fear he would still lose to Isakson, a nice guy to be sure but only a marginally effective lawmaker and lacking the boldness and courage to act against whatever nitwitisms his party demands.
mike
April 16th, 2010
1:35 pm
oh snap this what im talking about here isakson and thurmond i like both of them yep it about time i think the democrate got it right this time but
wesleywhatwhat
April 16th, 2010
1:36 pm
let’s hope he runs.
mike
April 16th, 2010
1:37 pm
isakson going to have to campaign thurmond going to have to rasie alot of money
Tobacco row
April 16th, 2010
1:44 pm
You better wait until qualifying is actually done!
mike
April 16th, 2010
1:46 pm
true but it still going to be a great race for both partys
brent
April 16th, 2010
1:53 pm
BillS that is a typical liberal elitist comment. Why do liberals always think they no what is best for everyone and when someone disagrees with them they call them names? Contrary to what you think most conservatives have a good grasp of daily events and what the right path for this country is,which is not having a nanny state and expect the government to provide for all that is socialism and has failed EVERYTIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Captain Midnight
April 16th, 2010
1:57 pm
Great, another lockstep black Obama democrat. That’s exactly what we need. Thurmod is ineffective in the office he holds. He should run for Attorney General, that jobs gonna be open soon.
mike
April 16th, 2010
2:00 pm
true
Mr. T
April 16th, 2010
2:01 pm
I am down with the Dems but this is a waste of time and money. Barring scandal, Isakson gets 60%.
What up
April 16th, 2010
2:02 pm
First things first. You re going to have to get Thurmond awake first. Everytime you see him he looks like he’s talking in his sleep. But that would go right along with the other Dems in Congress ……
zanesmith's teeth
April 16th, 2010
2:03 pm
Brent,
They (liberal elite) think that way because the non-liberal elite cannot understand the correct grammatical usage of know and no in an internet posting.
albert
April 16th, 2010
2:06 pm
Isakson has 3.9 million dollars on hand. This will be a blood bath.
MrAttitude
April 16th, 2010
2:07 pm
Thurmond is a great choice to run, but too many narrow minds in Georgia will not give him a chance. He has done an EXCELLENT job as Labor Commissioner.
PeachyKeene
April 16th, 2010
2:10 pm
Congratulations to the next Labor Commissioner, Melvin Everson !
MrAttitude
April 16th, 2010
2:10 pm
Captain Midnight,
What’s the difference between a lockstep black Obama democrat and a lockstep white Bush/Cheney/Palin/Perdue white republican?
And you want to tell the world that the repub leadership in the Georgia house and senate has been effective this past decade? Everyone has lost count of the scandals that have been a part of the conservative movement in Georgia
Keith
April 16th, 2010
2:11 pm
lsakson is no shoo-in for re-election. this is a anti-incumbent anti-washington yr. i rather run as a outsider than a d.c. insider.
Julie Camp
April 16th, 2010
2:14 pm
Thurmond comes off as slightly retarded to me. I think I’ll keep Isakson in office. He’s a good man and has done a lot for our state. Thurmond will only embarrass us like Hank J.
Go Away Jesse Jackson
April 16th, 2010
2:23 pm
wesleywhatwhat
April 16th, 2010
1:36 pm
let’s hope he runs.
Yeah……all the way to New York or further…..but wait, he can’t stay awake that long
Daniel…..Georgia Senate: BREAKING NEWS: State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond (D-GA) to announce U. S. Senate Run Tuesday….. « PoliticalDog101.com
April 16th, 2010
2:26 pm
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/04/16/michael-thurmond-courted-for-u-s-sena... [...]
Captain Midnight
April 16th, 2010
2:30 pm
Mr Attutude, the difference is my guy is a capitalist and yours is a socialist. Clear enough for you?
Captain Midnight
April 16th, 2010
2:31 pm
Mr Attitude, spelled your name wrong. My apologies.
Mike Smith
April 16th, 2010
2:33 pm
In what’s shaping up to be a huge anti-Obama year, Thurmond has zero chance against Isakson in Georgia. Even states with lots of mindless Obama Zombies are going to lose Democrat seats this year.
I wonder what Thurmond was promised to be the sacrificial lamb?
Congrats to Melivin Everson on becoming Georgia’s next Labor Commissioner.
Captain Midnight
April 16th, 2010
2:34 pm
I agree, Thurmond always looks like he’s on whatever HayJay’s on.
Strong Dem
April 16th, 2010
2:36 pm
SO glad he’s running. RJ is great, but having met him a couple times and spoke at somewhat length, I know that he has no chance at beating Isakson or raising enough money to even be a blip on the radar. Thurmond, who I’ve only met once very briefly, has the respect of statewide Democrats and will be able to raise some serious cash. Go ahead and presume that Isakson wins come November, at least the Democrats are running a respectable candidate!
Ned Puddleman
April 16th, 2010
3:00 pm
Isakson voted for the bailout. Thurmond is a communist. I’m voting 3rd party because there is no difference between Isakson and Thurmond neither should be in office.
Captain
April 16th, 2010
3:02 pm
For those of you who tout Thurmond, why? It can’t be because of anything more than he’s a Democrat and you favor more and more government growth and loss of individual freedom with ever increasing social programs, socialized medicine, higher taxes, diminished productivity, shrinking American influence in the world, continued downward spiral of the country; he’s black and so are you; he’s a lawyer and you support the HUGE Trial Lawyers controlling Health care and other facets of Govt activity. In other words, there is no reasonable, logical nor justifiable reason to vote for Michael Thurmond.
MrAttitude
April 16th, 2010
3:02 pm
Captain Midnight,
Apologies accepted. Now, you really have a closed mind to believe that repubs are not socialist. The main problem is that they like to use different terms but pork is pig and a pig is pork. Now, the good ole repub leadership is trying to pass of package of “fees” designed as tax hikes. They don’t want to call it a tax hike b/c it is supposedly against the mantra of the repub party. I love the way how many conservatives like to throw around the word “socialism” yet they utilize many of the practices they accuse the dems.
Capitalist vs Socialist – in the grand scheme of things, they’re all the same.
RetiredSoldier
April 16th, 2010
3:04 pm
Peachy-
If a white votes for a white candidate and not the black candidate, does that make them racist? Conversly, if a black votes for a black candidate and not the white candidate does that make the black voter racist? If you voted for Obama in the primary, does that make you sexist? See how silly this gets.
OMG
April 16th, 2010
3:04 pm
Johnny, used to be a thoughtful moderate guy capable of working effectively with anyone, but he has had to veer sharply to the RIGHT just to stay afloat in this religious zealot dominated GOP. He would have made a great gov about 8 yrs ago but he’s a worn down old nag now, rumored to have an affinity for the bottle.
RetiredSoldier
April 16th, 2010
3:06 pm
Excuse me, that was supposed to be addressed to Mr attitude. Sorry Peachy
Joe
April 16th, 2010
3:09 pm
He can run but he won’t have a chance. Being a democrat in Georgia is about like being a Auburn Tiger in Sanford stadium. Also there’s simply not enough black votes.
RetiredSoldier
April 16th, 2010
3:11 pm
OMG-
That’s terrible, if you have proof, bring it forth. If not you might try a little Christian charity. Nevermind, that might make you a Christian zealot. Sad.
Michael Thurmond To Challenge Isakson — Peach Pundit
April 16th, 2010
3:11 pm
[...] Jim Galloway brings us word that Michael Thurmond will challenge R.J. Hadley to be the man that loses to Johnny Isakson in November. [...]
MrAttitude
April 16th, 2010
3:12 pm
Retired Soldier,
Care to explain your post? I haven’t written anything that is a reflection of your words.
Captain Midnight
April 16th, 2010
3:12 pm
OMG, I heard a rumor that you beat your wife.
OMG
April 16th, 2010
3:14 pm
Not too many six figure jobs out there, especially for black males that don’t involves sports or entertainment. In other words, don’t quit your day job Mike. Its a nice, easy gig and you can probaly hold it down for as long as Tommy Irvin has kept his Ag Com post. AG or Lt Gov would be more realistic. They love to put a b/m in a #2 slot with little or no power. As grandpa used to say,” Son, hold what you Got!” Even a tired, whiskey soaked J.I. will be almost impossible to beat. If he’s breathing , he’s back in.
RetiredSoldier
April 16th, 2010
3:17 pm
Mr. Attitude-
Read your 2:07 post. You imply via “narrow” minds that if you don’t vote for Thurmond it is for racist reasons.
ED
April 16th, 2010
3:20 pm
I think Ray Mcberry should run–he kinda fits the morals of the senators we have now. It will be a good ole boy club. They stand around and talk about good ole times–We don’t need anyone with high standards in office. Honest will thought of men-like Thurmond will get lied about just like Saxby did to Max.
ED
April 16th, 2010
3:20 pm
that should be well not will
Jon
April 16th, 2010
3:22 pm
It’s a shame that neither party can come up with a decent alternative to the embarrassments that are Isakson and Chambliss. Georgia deserves better.
Aaron Burr V. Mexico
April 16th, 2010
3:25 pm
Republicans just stood in united opposition to regulation of the Derivatives Market.
Republicans + Banksters = Love.
And I still bet 9:1 odds that the people of this state will vote for Johnny Isackson anyway.
Why?
Because Georgia LOVES them some Banksters! MMMMMMMMM….Rampant financial fraud. Get in on the fraud, deceit and lies.
Shammy
April 16th, 2010
3:30 pm
Not one more Obamacrat. Not Thurmond. Not Barnes. Not one.
We have gotten out of control spending, less freedom and now the promise of more taxes. We don’t need one more democrat in office.
RetiredSoldier
April 16th, 2010
3:32 pm
Ed-
McBerry ran for the senate 2 years ago.
Jon-
One person’s embarrassment is another person’s hero. Don’t be so crass.
Ned Puddleman
April 16th, 2010
3:32 pm
Aaron Burr V. Mexico-
Hate to tell you it is both “parties” that are on the take and corrupt. Neither party is deserving of votes.
Aaron Burr V. Mexico (the original)
April 16th, 2010
3:48 pm
Thought everyone could use a break. Below is a link showing a PMSNBC reporterette attempting to play the race card. Spoiler alert!!!!! She fails.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/04/16/nbc_reporter_to_black_man_at_tea_party_have_you_ever_felt_uncomfortable.html
Kay
April 16th, 2010
3:48 pm
Mr. Thurmond,
I think you would make a great senator, but in the state of Georgia you do not stand a chance of winning statewide. This is a ploy to get you out of office, because you would not bring suit against the government on healthcare. Please do not fall for this.
Swede Atlanta
April 16th, 2010
3:55 pm
Kay, Thurmond is not the state AG who declined to file a lawsuit challenging the health care bill. The state AG is Baker.
While I would love to see a strong Democratic challenger to Isaksson, I don’t believe one has a chance in this state. I have written Georgia off to the dustbin of history.
ED
April 16th, 2010
3:59 pm
To retired soldier–yeah he should run again this time with the baggage he has he will fit right in with DC