Your daily jolt: Republicans absorb Tuesday’s lessons
The message from last night: The dynamics of Georgia politics haven’t changed much in four years. Republican Mitt Romney on Tuesday won this state (53.4 percent) by nearly the same margin as John McCain (52 percent) in 2008.
Here’s the county-by-county map of last night’s returns.
In fact, with the exception of D.C.-infected Virginia, Republicans won every state in the Old Confederacy, and a few border concerns besides. But 206 electoral votes won’t win you a presidency. Elsewhere, the GOP clearly needs to recalculate its audience and its message.
Republicans had bet the demographic changes measured in countless surveys and the 2010 census wouldn’t show up at the polls. They were wrong. The quick and simple from the Associated Press:
In exit polling Tuesday, voters mirrored the voting public’s makeup of four years ago, when Obama shattered minority voting barriers and drove young voters to the polls unlike any candidate in generations.
White voters made up 72 percent of the electorate — less than four years ago — while black voters remained at 13 percent and Hispanics increased from 9 percent to 10 percent.
That flew in the face of GOP assumptions that the fierce economic headwinds of the past three years and the passing of the novelty of the first African-American president would trim Obama’s support from black voters, perhaps enough to make the difference in a close election.
However, Obama carried Virginia, the heart of the old South, in part by having increased his record support from black voters there in 2008, which reached 18 percent, to more than 20 percent, according to Obama campaign internal tracking polls.
On CNN this morning, former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich simply said “I was wrong” when he predicted a 53 percent victory margin for Romney:
Said Gingrich:
“We all thought that we understood the historical pattern and the fact that, with this level of unemployment, with this level of gasoline pricing, what would happen….The country was looking at a different set of things than we were looking at.”
The miscalculations and misstatements – both Todd Akin in Missouri and Richard Mourdock in Indiana lost their Republicans campaigns – cost the GOP control of the U.S. Senate. Again, from AP:
In a somber statement, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Republicans “have a period of reflection and recalibration ahead.” He added that, “While some will want to blame one wing of the party over the other, the reality is candidates from all corners of our GOP lost tonight.”
Some will declare that Republicans were beaten because they weren’t conservative enough. A message from Jenny Beth Martin, the Cherokee County woman who heads up Tea Party Patriots, arrived just before midnight. It included this:
What we got was a weak moderate candidate, hand-picked by the Beltway elites and country-club establishment wing of the Republican Party. The Presidential loss is unequivocally on them….
We cannot change what the Republican establishment handed us tonight. We can stop Barack Obama from fundamentally changing the future and character of this nation. We can stop the mushy-middle, non-fighters in the GOP from rolling over and getting rolled, yet again by the Left.
Or you can simply move on. This voice mail from Republican Joe McCutchen, who lived and breathed Mitt Romney for 18 months, arrived this morning:
”I’m sorry about Mitt, but I’ve already gone to work on the next two-year election. I’m happy about my nephew Hunter winning. We’re going to take over the Senate in 2014. I’ve already started to work on the next election.”
***
In the passage of Amendment One the charter school measure, five counties in metro Atlanta provided 62 percent of the 625,133 margin of victory:
– DeKalb: Yes, by 81,784 votes;
– Cobb: Yes, by 83,204 votes;
– Gwinnett: Yes, by 74,626 votes;
– Fulton: Yes, by 111,733 votes;
– Clayton: Yes, by 39,503.
We’ve received one estimate that the charter school measure won approximately 65 percent of the African-American vote in DeKalb, 64 percent in Fulton, and 72 percent in Clayton. This despite concerted opposition from the likes of the Rev. Joe Lowery; state Sen. Emanuel Jones of Decatur, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus; and state Sen. Vincent Fort of Atlanta.
This was the result that TSPLOST supporters wanted, but couldn’t get. Here’s a link to the county-by-county map of the returns.
***
A review of other Georgia contests worth noting this morning:
– Both Republican incumbents on the state Public Service Commission won re-election. Chuck Eaton (52 percent) beat Stephen Openheimer (43 percent), with Libertarian Brad Ploeger taking 5 percent. Notice that the results roughly mirrored the presidential contest.
Stan Wise (66 percent) beat David Staples, who ended the evening as the state’s most popular Libertarian, with 34 percent – or more than 1 million votes.
– Democratic incumbent John Barrow finished off Lee Anderson with 54 percent in the 12th District congressional race.
***
Republican challenger Hunter Hill beat Democratic incumbent Doug Stoner in the race for District 6 state Senate seat. But Republicans will have to wait for a runoff and special general election contest in District 30 before they can claim a supermajority in the Senate.
State Rep. Bill Hembree, R-Winston, narrowly missed (48 percent) winning outright, and will face Republican Mike Dugan (24 percent) in December. The winner must still face an independent in January. Former House speaker Glenn Richardson finished third (15 percent) in the District 30 contest.
So the count in the Senate is 37 Republicans, 18 Democrats, and one race yet to be decided.
Members of the new Republican Senate caucus will meet next week in south Georgia at Little Ocmulgee State Park to pick a new leadership team. Do not overlook the fact that, at one GOP celebration last night, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle was introduced by state Sen. David Shafer, R-Duluth, who is likely to be elected Senate president pro tem.
***
Democrats this morning claim they have blocked a GOP supermajority in the state House, keeping Republicans to 119 seats of 180. Among those races:
– In House District 12, Democratic incumbent Barbara Reece of Menlo lost to Republican Eddie Lumsden (51 percent).
– In House District 16: Republican Trey Kelley trounced (69 percent) Democratic incumbent Rick Crawford of Cedartown, who had promised to switch to the GOP if re-elected.
– In House District 81, Democratic incumbent Scott Holcomb defeated (56 percent) Republican Chris Boedeker.
– In House District 96: Democratic incumbent Pedro Marin survived (55 percent) a GOP challenge from Mark Williams, who was hospitalized during a portion of the campaign.
– In House District 105: Republican Joyce Chandler of Lawrenceville defeated (51 percent) Democrat Renita Hamilton for an open seat.
– In House District 138: Republican Mike Cheokas of Americus barely survived (50.64 percent) a Democratic challenge from Kevin Brown.
– In House District 145: Independent incumbent Rusty Kidd (54 percent) defeated Democrat Quentin Howell. Despite their effort to knock him off, Democrats say Kidd’s presence in the House– plus their 60 members — deprives the GOP of supermajority status.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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335 comments Add your comment
Mike
November 7th, 2012
4:50 pm
@Hilarious
Unfortunately, a Fascist did win…or does government control of private industry not meet that definition?
creaative
November 7th, 2012
4:50 pm
@midtownguy…we welcome you in the libertarian party. Also, its funny how as soon as I posted there were 5 hate filled posts from both sides. please go read my post and stop acting like 8 year olds
Evan who?
November 7th, 2012
4:51 pm
@Evan
One of the states where marijuana was legalized? Certainly explains a bit..
midtownguy
November 7th, 2012
4:52 pm
Al: Maybe their is a mural of Obama on the wall of a polling place for the same reason there is a cross on the top of Morningside Baptist where I vote.
Evan
November 7th, 2012
4:56 pm
Nice point. @ Evan who? Try again. that was really, really lame. I would actually like to have an intellectual discussion but it seems like you GOPers are too racist and brainwashed to even communicate effectively.
Evan
November 7th, 2012
5:05 pm
I mean really, Aren’t ya’ll tired of losing. Even if you did secede the South would be a third world country next to the North-West. It’s not even a close comparison. Fact of the matter is, you are wrong, you have been wrong, and you will continue to be wrong. Keep it up and we will, whip your asses back into shape. Without change, history is doomed to repeat itself. Now is the time for change, just accept it.
Evan who?
November 7th, 2012
5:06 pm
@Evan
So…you’re ‘back’ from your lunch break to blog? Does that mean you’re spending time blogging instead of doing what you are getting paid for? Tsk tsk.
The one obsessed with stereotypes unfortunately seems to be you…but we poor, illiterate uneducated Southerners certainly appreciate you painting us all with the same brush. Kinda speaks volumes.
Hilarious
November 7th, 2012
5:07 pm
@Mike.
Government control of all private industry?
Some private industry?
Which private industry, buddy?
Come on, which private industry does the government control?
The fascists lost.
Go to Somalia where there is no government control of private industry.
Have fun!
Mike
November 7th, 2012
5:07 pm
Down closes down 300+ today…..
Anyone surprised?
Ki
November 7th, 2012
5:08 pm
It’s truly unfortunate that people don’t read anymore and that they blindly follow someone who is popular and charismatic. I am very disappointed that Obama was re-electd because of his beliefs, policies, and ideologies. Racism and Bigotry has nothing to do with facts and numbers. The numbers and facts point to him failing on all fronts, and if you think that Obamacare is going to be ‘the best thing since slice bread,’ you have another thing coming. Your kids will suffer and feell the effect of your uniformed and impulsive decision. Many corporations will revamp the Hiring procedure. Full time jobs are are thing of the past! They will circumvent the law with PART TIME employees ONLY! They won’t be able to afford the premiums and you won’t be able to afford Healthcare; however, YOU will STILL have to pay a TAX for NOT having Health Insurance.
Obama won STRICTLY on MARKETING! The media was against Mitt Romney. It skewed the public perception and demonized him for being a wealthy business man. It’s sad that so many people are jealous of success and hard work.
This years will be a DIRECT result of Obama’s politics. He will not have the luxury to blame Bush anymore. We will see if your “beloved Leader” really is a “Leader.” I don’t see it. Never have and never will!
Don Coyote
November 7th, 2012
5:09 pm
Just give me a choice of a fiscal conservative who believes in individual freedoms and doesn’t want to be the world’s policeman and I’m there.
3d
November 7th, 2012
5:10 pm
We’ll see what this country looks like in 4 years.
Ki
November 7th, 2012
5:11 pm
It’s truly unfortunate that people don’t read anymore and that they blindly follow someone like sheep. I am very disappointed that Obama was re-elected because of his beliefs, policies, and ideologies. Racism and Bigotry has nothing to do with facts and numbers. The numbers and facts point to him failing on all fronts, and if you think that Obama-care is going to be ‘the best thing since slice bread,’ you have another thing coming. Your kids will suffer and feel the effect of your uniformed and impulsive vote. Many corporations will revamp their hiring procedures. Full time jobs will be a thing of the past! Corporations will circumvent the law with PART TIME employees ONLY! They will NOT pay higher premiums and you won’t be able to afford Healthcare; however, YOU will STILL have to pay a TAX for NOT having Health Insurance.
Obama won STRICTLY because of MARKETING! The media was against Mitt Romney. It skewed the public perception and demonized him for being a wealthy business man. It’s sad that so many people are jealous of success and hard work.
This years will be a DIRECT result of Obama’s politics. He will not have the luxury to blame Bush anymore. We will see if your “beloved Leader” really is a “Leader.” I don’t see it. Never have and never will!
Les
November 7th, 2012
5:14 pm
In order to win the Executive Branch, the Republicans will need to work on:
1. Not ostricizing women, and their right to have a controlling say in their own body.
2. Not defaming women, by making insinuating statements that God is against them.
3. Not making statements detesting and demoralizing 47% of the population.
4. Not completely ignoring minority populations in the U.S.
5. Not having the position that other-genders should have less rights.
The Republicans have separated themselves from too sizeable a chunk of the voting population. Unless that changes it will be very difficult to win the Presidency.
Hilarious
November 7th, 2012
5:18 pm
Mike, get a grip, pal.
The Dow closes up and down points every single day.
If you weren’t obviously a conservative who lives in his own reality, I’d tell you to look at Europe’s market, which started the drop that the US markets followed.
Oh, and here is what the stock market has done in the less-than-4 years the Kenyan Usurper Communist Muslim Atheist Socialist Blah Man has been president:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EeXxOx1X3Y4/UJmiYn4hxmI/AAAAAAAAIks/MN5Bnxwpz6w/s1600/dow%2Bfour%2Byr.png
One day, when conservatives stop supporting fascists, and come back to reality, maybe then you’ll be worth addressing. Until then, keep screaming what your masters tell you to scream, and occasionally wipe the spittle from your chin.
Are you Serious?!?!
November 7th, 2012
5:23 pm
@ Old Doug…I LOVE you man. Wish there were more folks like you!
Devil's Advocate
November 7th, 2012
5:28 pm
I just laugh at all the die hard righties who keep bashing Obama about dividing the country. The county was divided long before Obama.
Mike
November 7th, 2012
5:33 pm
@Hilarious
Wow-are you angry? Shame you can’t resort to making points without resorting to such vitriol. Just you, I guess. Hopefully you feel better now.
If you don’t think the government auto bailout is tantamount to fascism, you know less about business or politics then your posts even indicate. Perhaps you should study the meaning on the word before your next tirade…
AgainstRacism
November 7th, 2012
5:34 pm
I’m a christian and I voted Obama. I voted against the racist rhetoric of the Republican Party. I’ve always worked full-time, own my own home & pay taxes. Yet, Mitt Romney labeled me with 47% of American’s looking for a handout. I was laid-off for (2) months & received un-employment benefits. Since I’ve paid in this tax system since I was 17 year old worker; i feel in my time of need I should be able to use my benefits. I was able to find another job after 2 months. 47% of people aren’t looking for a handout. They want to work; if all the billionaire’s & business owners are so concerned for America; quit sending jobs oversees to other countries and pay your fair share of taxes accordingly..i.e. like the rest of us. **Instead they send jobs to India, China etc..& find loopholes to pay less taxes. Republicans for America & Values…yeah right….
woodrow
November 7th, 2012
5:35 pm
The election makes a bold statement. Republican’s are out of touch with the American people. Here we have a party so lame it cannot defeat Obama. They need to think a lot harder.
Corey
November 7th, 2012
5:36 pm
zeke
November 7th, 2012
11:49 am
Dude, you do know that Mr. Obama got most of the college educated votes? I guess they’re ignorant and don’t have a clue about how government works either. Please get a copy of “Snow Storm in August”, and get back to me.
Hilarious
November 7th, 2012
5:37 pm
Hey Mike.
Does the government control the auto companies it bailed out? Does it make any decisions for GM? How does it CONTROL GM? Please, tell me, I’m fascinated.
Oh, you mean it doesn’t control GM? It doesn’t make decisions for GM?
That means you’re either lying or severely misinformed.
Again, once you decide to live here in reality, we can talk. Until then, you’ll just scream talking points and slogans your masters have trained you to scream. I pity you.
Let them eat cake
November 7th, 2012
5:39 pm
Last week, I felt sorry for the northeastern states with the storm damage and power outages. Not any more. The blue states can rot, for all I care.
Hilarious
November 7th, 2012
5:43 pm
Let them eat cake:
Your name obviously goes over your head.
Also, the blue states pay welfare for the red states. How does it feel living in a state that is a taker? A looter?
I’m sure the blue states would be happy to let red states continue to rot without also sucking away their tax dollars.
Reality alludes you, as does the context of your name.
Brilliant!
Meh
November 7th, 2012
5:44 pm
Unfortunately, decency and honesty took a beating yesterday as morons, deadbeats, union goons, and jerkoffs ruled the day.
Evan
November 7th, 2012
5:46 pm
Funny that the Blue states are doing quite well, Sandy and all, while the Red states actually are rotting.
Hilarious
November 7th, 2012
5:47 pm
I’m sorry Meh, that your fascist buddies weren’t able to take power.
Too bad.
Let them eat cake
November 7th, 2012
5:48 pm
Hey, Hilarious, it’s “eludes,” not “alludes.” You’re so illiterate that you can’t even spell a simple two-syllable word.
Mike
November 7th, 2012
5:49 pm
@Hilarious
Please come back when your Xanax has kicked in, Perhaps then a rational discussion *might* be possible,
And while you’re waiting, give some thought the dealers forced to close-profitable ones, of course-as part of this scenario. Or perhaps the inventory forced out to boost production numbers, 75 days average currently. Or maybe, the Chevy Volt topping out at 40K, less incentives we are paying for, naturally.
Hilarious
November 7th, 2012
5:49 pm
Let them eat cake
thanks fOr pointin out a speling error!
Your so smart!!
Evan
November 7th, 2012
5:51 pm
Decency and Honesty. What hell do you come from? The GOP is the most dishonest, self-interested, bigoted party of them all. Why do you think you lost after all. I am continually amazed at the sheer willpower these republicans have which enables them to ignore the writing clearly on the wall. The American people, hell, most of the World doesn’t want you. Nazism died with the Third Reich. Step into the light or just kill yourselves already. Actually, it would appear as though your policies and stances on major issues are actually doing that job for the rest of us.
cdpridg
November 7th, 2012
5:51 pm
Evan…lunch at 4:00 PM…pretty much says it all…..anywhoo…back to Butchs comments. Debate…drop the name calling..explain your position. If you are incapable find something better to do with your time like checking out the new Xbox game across the counter from you
Meh
November 7th, 2012
5:51 pm
“Funny that the Blue states are doing quite well, Sandy and all, while the Red states actually are rotting.”
Very true, and they lose population every census as people leave in droves. But liberals never let a few facts spoil their cozy little beliefs.
old man
November 7th, 2012
5:51 pm
Something stinks in Florida. That situation needs to be investigated before we have another 2000.
Mike
November 7th, 2012
5:52 pm
@Hilarious
Take a breath-it’s “You’re”.
Thanks.
Mike
November 7th, 2012
5:54 pm
@Meh
California seems to be doing quite well-what it is, 16B deficit at present? Wow.
Blkman
November 7th, 2012
5:54 pm
Outside of Atlanta, how can rural farmers and people living in poverty vote republican. It’s puzzling.its still the old south. Same old play just a new script.
Evan
November 7th, 2012
5:54 pm
@ cdpridg this guy is such an idiot. Didn’t I say that I live on the West Coast.
you guys are fu*king idots. I swear.
Hilarious
November 7th, 2012
5:55 pm
Hey Mike, you aren’t interested in a conversation. You’re interested in screaming about SOSHALISM! and the Kenyan Muslim Atheist Blah Man who took away your country.
GM controls itself, it isn’t controlled by the government. Period.
Oh, and Fascism is based on ethnic, religious, and moral purity and ultra-nationalism. Fascists prohibit labor unions. They assign non-majority ethnic groups into second class status. They deny rights to people who don’t follow whichever morality they espouse.
As an example, The Nazis prohibited labor unions, put homosexuals, communists, gypsies, Jews, and many other non-Aryan people into prison. They outlawed abortion, and started pre-emptive wars to protect their homeland. Here’s a hint, dirty libs and Democrats don’t do any of that. But the…fascist party does.
But hey, ‘ol Rush gushes on and on about the Chevy Volt, and like a good German, you’re able to somewhat trot out a few figures about it. Congrats, dittohead!
Evan
November 7th, 2012
5:55 pm
California has problems, but I wouldn’t trade it for any of the backward, animal fu*king, 3rd world states that Romney won in the South. LMAO.
Evan
November 7th, 2012
6:01 pm
These guys are really crying about states like West Virginia (the hillbilly, animal rapist capital of the world. ) Losing brain cells from all those coal fumes. Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas. Who gives a flying fu*k about these states other than you losers. Dixie can die along with the rest of you.
cdpridg
November 7th, 2012
6:01 pm
Evan…sorry you dont impress…do you have any substance anything intellignet to say…
Evan
November 7th, 2012
6:07 pm
Oil Boom in the Dakotas. Keep em, they will be poorer than the dirt they live on in 100 years once oil is obsolete. Face it. Everything you guys stand for sucks, is worthless, and wouldn’t sustain the nation even if you cut spending on “your” welfare queens well into the future. The South is worthless that’s why the economy is bad. If you extrapolate the Southern states from the economy, sure you lose some measure of productivity, but you also cut out the overly obese, racist, less cohesive elements of our society right out of the picture as well. We would be better of without you.
Evan
November 7th, 2012
6:08 pm
I already made my points on the previous pages. I am just having a laugh at your expense now.
vietnamvet
November 7th, 2012
6:08 pm
Let me know when Cain’s plane leaves for another counrty. I want to see him off. He promised to leave the country if The President was elected
Mike
November 7th, 2012
6:09 pm
@Hilarious
Sorry, not screaming about anything..I’m leaving that to you flogging the caps lock key. But on the bright side, you did spell ‘Hilarious’ correctly.
If you don’t think these actions translate into fascism, you’re deceiving only yourself-despite what Wiki definitions you’ve resorted to. Good luck.
Mike
November 7th, 2012
6:11 pm
@Evan
You can’t be serious. I really feel sorry for you.
Ron Paul for Life
November 7th, 2012
6:19 pm
Most people do not make more than $250K per year. Even small business owners don’t net that much. So I simply don’t understand why all these middle class folks are up in arms about Obama wanting to make Warren Buffet pay more in taxes.
Republican for Life
November 7th, 2012
6:35 pm
I need to change my name, because this year I actually voted for a democratic president. I am ashamed of the republicans who represent the party now. It’s time for major CHANGES in the republican party.
Voter
November 7th, 2012
6:39 pm
It’s easy people, (and I mainly mean the voters for hussein obama). If you have a job with benefits, watch your medical per diem increase, it will be easy to notice because you will get less in your paycheck. Then when you do go to the clinic/hospital, watch what your co-pay will be and how much they charge you. Now of course for those who will lose their jobs because their company doesn’t want to pay the extra for them, you will know what I mean first hand. Then also notice how they will Debit your bank account without your authorization for paying fines. Then call the White House and talk to the man who made it happen.