Democrats appear unlikely to cross over in significant numbers to vote Republican in Tuesday’s U.S. Senate runoff election.
Still, switching parties to vote for either Jack Kingston or David Perdue could tempt Democrats hoping to choose a candidate considered more vulnerable to Democratic nominee Michelle Nunn in the fall election.
The crossover strategy has received intense national media scrutiny after Democrats, especially black voters, gave Republican U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran a Mississippi runoff victory over Tea Party challenger Chris McDaniel. McDaniel, who led Cochran in primary voting, is mounting a challenge of the runoff vote.
In another nationally visible election, Democratic switchovers played a role in the recent defeat of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor to Dave Brat in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Former Georgia Congressman Ben Jones, who played “Cooter” in the “Dukes of Hazzard,” wrote an open letter urging Democrats to vote against Cantor.
Georgia political observers have seen little sign of organized campaigns to get Democrats to pick up a Republican ballot Tuesday.
“I haven’t heard of any effort, if so, it’s on a limited basis,” said University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock III.
Bullock said voters in Clarke County received a letter urging them to vote against ultra-conservative Jody Hice in the predominantly Republican 10th Congressional District. Hice is running against Mike Collins, son of former U.S. Rep. Mac Collins, for the GOP nomination to replace incumbent Paul Broun, who lost in the U.S. Senate primary.
The letter targeted Clarke because it is the only Democratic county in the district, Bullock said.
While no significant crossover campaign has surfaced, the idea remains appealing, even to liberal voices.
AJC columnist Jay Bookman last week wrote a column defending the legitimacy of the practice.
“When I walk into our local elementary school to vote Tuesday, I’ll once again pick up a ballot to vote in the Republican primary,” Bookman said.
“Under Georgia’s open primary system, it’s perfectly legal — even for a liberal like myself — to take that step,” Bookman continued. “But it’s more than merely legal. It is an appropriate, patriotic and at times even necessary use of the voting franchise. And if the practice outrages conservatives who see the GOP as their own private club, tough. I make no apologies.”
Bookman didn’t mention that the Democrats have a runoff for a major statewide office. Apparently, he doesn’t think Democrats have an obligation to choose a candidate for state school superintendent, although the office sets the state’s education policy. Nor did Bookman disclose which GOP candidate he’ll vote for.
In the Senate race, Perdue, a political newcomer, is seen as the candidate Nunn has the best chance of beating. But Perdue also poses obstacles.
Bullock pointed out that Perdue has sought to position himself as a political outsider, painting Kingston as an entrenched career politician too connected to Washington.
If Perdue wins, Nunn will find it tougher to present herself as a newcomer, Bullock said. “If you have an outsider strategy, you don’t want to be running against David Perdue,” he said.
On the other hand, Kingston as a veteran politician looks to be a tougher opponent for Nunn.
Bullock said that “Kingstgon is way ahead in endorsements and support of the Republican establishment, Republican members of Congress. My guess is that Republican leaders would feel very comfortable getting him.”
Looking ahead to the fall campaign, Bullock said that although Nunn has gained a fund-raising edge while Kingston and Perdue have depleted their war-chests in the bitter runoff campaign, the winning GOP candidate “won’t have any problems refilling campaign treasuries. Whether they can tie the party back together is likely to be more daunting.”
Meanwhile, as some Democrats consult the tea leaves and figure out if voting for either Kingston or Perdue might help Nunn, she continues to cite her strength over either one. Bullock pointed to Nunn’s release of a recent poll that shows her with a 3 point lead over Kingston and 7 points over Perdue.
“The purpose is to raise money,” Bullock said. “The polls show I can beat either one of them.”
Nunn particularly shows fund-raising strength outside of Georgia as national Democrats perceive her as having one of the best chances for maintaining a Democratic majority in the Senate.
To win, Nunn likely will have to draw moderates voters who have long swung to the GOP in Georgia. The switchover game continues.
