Bill Shipp: Where is Sam Nunn now that we really need him?

Bill Shipp writes:

Where is Sam Nunn now that we really need him?

Look no further than Georgia for an example of what happens to Democrats if blacks think they have lost their stake in the elections game. Republican Sonny Perdue wiped out Democratic gubernatorial challenger Mark Taylor in the Nov. 7 election because black voters stayed home. Taylor might not have won in any case, but a strong black turnout would have made the race close. Taylor took the black voted for granted, courted the white male vote and lost the election in a landslide.

A similar scenario could occur nationally unless Democrats embrace a towering candidate who can rise above the politics of race - a candidate who can select a ticket capable of pleasing all segments of citizens instead of satisfying a handful of bosses determined to control the Democratic nomination even if they lose the election.

At the moment it's hard to imagine such a candidate except perhaps former Sen. Sam Nunn. We tried to phone Nunn for his reaction, but his office said he was not available. We also tried to phone Nunn six years ago and again four years ago. He didn't take our calls then either, and look what happened.