Can Democrat Jason Carter’s forceful governor’s campaign withstand a late barrage of TV ads from GOP incumbent Nathan Deal?
The Republican Governors Association will spend another $1 million in Georgia, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, bringing expenditures to $2.6 million. Meanwhile, the Democratic Governors Association so far has not matched the GOP firepower.
In the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Michelle Nunn and Republican David Perdue, out-side spending has dwindled after an earlier rush, the AJC reported.
National money could make a significant difference in Georgia, particularly in the governor’s campaign, where polls show Carter and Deal in a dead heat. If the spending surge gives Deal the edge, Democrats will regret another lost opportunity.
Six years ago, Democrat Jim Martin’s U.S. Senate campaign received little national support, and Martin lost to incumbent Saxby Chambliss in a runoff. But the Democrats’ closest near miss came in 1990, when David Worley, 32, almost upset House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich in the sixth congressional district.
Worley lost by a mere 974 votes. Georgia Democrats believed that the Democratic Congres-sional Campaign Committee’s refusal to support Worley cost him the election, as Alec MacGillis recounted in the Dec. 29, 2011, New Republic. Gingrich went on to spearhead the Republican victory in the 1994 congressional elections and serve as House speaker during Democratic President Bill Clinton’s administration.
According to MacGillis, the DCCC gave Worley $50,000 in a 1988 losing campaign against Gingrich. Criticizing Gingrich’s support for a $35,000 congressional pay raise, Worley made huge gains in 1990. But the DCCC turned down Worley’s requests for help. The committee did come up with funds for a recount, but it was too late.
Now, with the RGA throwing its weight behind Deal, Carter supporters could be watching the scenario play out again.
Late Tuesday, the Carter campaign reported strong fund-raising for the last three months, the AJC said. The campaign announced he’d raised more than $3 million from July-September, from 22,000 donors, the newspaper said. Deal’s fund-raising report was expected later in the day, with campaign insiders thinking he would also break the $3 million barrier.
TV debates: Turn away from football and baseball: Candidates will trade blows in Atlanta Press Club debates, telecast by Georgia Public Broadcasting for three weekends beginning Sunday.
The U.S. Senate debate will air live beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, with the governor’s debate at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19.
Democrats have the most to gain: All races for state offices have Republican incumbents ex-cept for the contest for school superintendent, being vacated by GOP incumbent John Barge.
“Challengers are always looking for any opportunity to appear the equal of incumbents,” Uni-versity of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock III said. “The Democratic challeng-ers have names that most voters have never heard of before.”
With the strong interest in the governor’s and Senate races, “virtually all the campaign money has been sucked up by the governor’s and senatorial candidates,” Bullock said.
Democrat Valarie Wilson, who supports Common Core, looks to have a good chance in the school superintendent’s race against Richard Woods, who opposes the national standards.
Here is the debate schedule:
Sunday, Oct. 12.
PSC District 1. incumbent Doug Everett and John Monds. Airs online at atlantapressclub.org. at 1:30 p.m. Monds hasn’t confirmed as of Tuesday.
Agriculture Commissioner. Incumbent Gary Black and Chris Irvin. Taped debate airs at 6 p.m. Black hasn’t confirmed.
Labor Commissioner. Incumbent Mark Butler and Robbin Shipp. Taped debate airs at 6:30 p.m.
State School Superintendent. Valarie Wilson and Richard Woods. Taped debate airs at 7 p.m.
Attorney General. Incumbent Sam Olens and Greg Hecht. Taped debate airs at 7:30 p.m
Sunday, Oct. 19
PSC, District 4. Incumbent Lauren “Bubba” McDonald, Democrat Daniel Blackman and Liber-tarian Aaron Gilmer. Airs online at atlantapressclub.org from 3:30-4 p.m.
Secretary of State. Incumbent Brian Kemp and Doreen Carter. Taped debate airs at 6 p.m. Carter hasn’t confirmed.
Lieutenant Governor. Incumbent Casey Cagle and Connie Stokes. Taped debate airs at 6:30 p.m.
Governor. Incumbent Nathan Deal, Jason Carter and Libertarian Andrew Hunt. Airs live from 7-8 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 26
Insurance commissioner. Incubent Ralph Hudgens, Liz Johnson and Libertarian Ted Metz. Taped debate airs at 6 p.m.
12th congressional district. Democratic incumbent John Barrow and Rick Allen. Taped debate airs at 6:30 p.m.
U.S. Senate. David Perdue, Michelle Nunn and Libertarian Amanda Swafford. Airs live fromm 7-8 p.m.
