Bill Shipp: Broun victory "a reflection of the mindset of the electorate rather than a result of skill by the winner or mistakes by the loser."
Bill Shipp writes about Paul Broun's upset over former State Sen. Jim Whitehead in the July runoff to fill the unexpired term of the late Charlie Norwood:
After covering politics for more than a half-century, I can tell you that like most races, this one was a reflection of the mindset of the electorate rather than a result of skill by the winner or mistakes by the loser. We can learn much from this race.
Last year, as the rest of the nation moved in the direction of change, Georgia voters lagged, due in part to their generally conservative Republican outlook and to the continued strong economic growth in the state. In a year when much of the nation was yelling for change, Georgia stayed the course. It is telling that on Nov. 7, 2006, as many Americans engaged in "throwing the bums out," not a single incumbent Georgia officeholder at the federal or state level was defeated.
Whitehead was at least as much of a favorite against Broun as almost any incumbent seeking re-election. But Broun, the man who had finished far from victory in all of his other tries for office, was able to bolt together a coalition of disaffected Republicans, Athens Democrats and a multitude of others who are fed up with corruption in Washington and inaction on critical issues facing the nation, from the Iraq war to health care to illegal immigration.
While the campaign in the heavily Republican district was between two members of the GOP, it was clear to everyone who cast a ballot that Whitehead was the chosen, logical successor to Norwood (he even touted the endorsement of Norwood's widow in broadcast advertisements), and that Broun was the outsider who was rejected by Georgia's powers-that-be. Whitehead's defeat should send chills down the spine of every Georgia officeholder who will be on the ballot in 2008, especially U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a representative of Georgia's GOP establishment if there ever was one. Chambliss is running his first race for re-election to the Senate next year, and he will face a difficult challenge if he is opposed by a candidate who can claim the mantles of outsider and reformer.
After covering politics for more than a half-century, I can tell you that like most races, this one was a reflection of the mindset of the electorate rather than a result of skill by the winner or mistakes by the loser. We can learn much from this race.
Last year, as the rest of the nation moved in the direction of change, Georgia voters lagged, due in part to their generally conservative Republican outlook and to the continued strong economic growth in the state. In a year when much of the nation was yelling for change, Georgia stayed the course. It is telling that on Nov. 7, 2006, as many Americans engaged in "throwing the bums out," not a single incumbent Georgia officeholder at the federal or state level was defeated.
Whitehead was at least as much of a favorite against Broun as almost any incumbent seeking re-election. But Broun, the man who had finished far from victory in all of his other tries for office, was able to bolt together a coalition of disaffected Republicans, Athens Democrats and a multitude of others who are fed up with corruption in Washington and inaction on critical issues facing the nation, from the Iraq war to health care to illegal immigration.
While the campaign in the heavily Republican district was between two members of the GOP, it was clear to everyone who cast a ballot that Whitehead was the chosen, logical successor to Norwood (he even touted the endorsement of Norwood's widow in broadcast advertisements), and that Broun was the outsider who was rejected by Georgia's powers-that-be. Whitehead's defeat should send chills down the spine of every Georgia officeholder who will be on the ballot in 2008, especially U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a representative of Georgia's GOP establishment if there ever was one. Chambliss is running his first race for re-election to the Senate next year, and he will face a difficult challenge if he is opposed by a candidate who can claim the mantles of outsider and reformer.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 9:51 AM
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