The reach, power and importance of contacts in politics.

You live in Georgia (not the Other Georgia); the below news concerns the endorsement of a first-term senator from distant Coffee County (200 miles away from Atlanta) for someone few of you had ever heard of until recently for someone seeking what is usually an unimportant race.

Consequently, you conclude the news could not be important. Are you correct in your conclusion? No. Read on, and recognize what Sen. Cagel means when he talks about grassroots campaigning in the months to come. _______________

Goggans to lead campaign in Coffee

State Senator, and candidate for the office of Lt. Governor, Casey Cagle announced Tuesday that Senator Greg Goggans will help lead his campaign in Coffee County.

Goggans is part of a group of 23 Senators from across Georgia who are supporting Cagle in his bid for Lt. Governor. Cagle is the second-longest serving Republican member of the Georgia Senate, and chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

“This race will be won or lost at the grassroots, and I am committed to reaching out to every Georgia voter from one end of the state to the other. I am pleased to have the strong support of Senator Goggans as we build an organization to take our message of better jobs, lower taxes, and respect for traditional values to every community in Georgia,” said Cagle.

Goggans was first elected to the Georgia State Senate from the 7th District in 2004, representing Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Lanier, Pierce, and Ware counties and portions of Cook County.

(5-11-05, Douglas Daily News.)
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But for the contacts that Sen. Goggans has made during his brief 40 days serving as a state senator from the Other Georgia, I assure you Sen. Goggans would be front and center in the Ralph Reed campaign.

We've got a race on our hands folks, although Sen. Cagle has an almost impossible task at hand. But those signing up with him know this, and sign up nonetheless.