Why is Athens and Oconee turning red in an otherwise blue tidal wave in America?
I must give credit where credit is due: the Georgia Republican party took a page out of the Lee Atwater - Ralph Reed playbook and did the best they can to try and bury the Democratic party in Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties. Malapportionment and redistricting seemed to work well for the Republicans in the state senate race in District 46 at the very least. Let's hope Bill Cowsert remains true to his word and will work towards a more united district rather than to forward his partisan agenda. I look forward to more affordable health care.
The real test will be in now three weeks when Heidi Davison takes on Charlie Maddox in the run-off to decide the Mayor of Athens-Clarke County. I think Heidi will win in a cakewalk but it is always about who gets out the vote the most, especially in run-offs. I do not see Tom Chasteen as a factor in who will win. You could put forth the whole African-American vs. Caucasian theorum with the Kelly Girtz - Alvin Sheets run off as well, but somehow I do not think that will translate very well. Sure some folks will vote based on the color of their skin versus the color of the skin of the people they are voting for, but I think the racist factors will cancel each other out (i.e. rednecks voting for whites eliminating black folks voting for blacks just because they are blacks). But it will be an interesting three weeks and I think the Heidi voters are more motivated than the Maddox supporters. Same for Girtz versus Sheets.
The real test will be in now three weeks when Heidi Davison takes on Charlie Maddox in the run-off to decide the Mayor of Athens-Clarke County. I think Heidi will win in a cakewalk but it is always about who gets out the vote the most, especially in run-offs. I do not see Tom Chasteen as a factor in who will win. You could put forth the whole African-American vs. Caucasian theorum with the Kelly Girtz - Alvin Sheets run off as well, but somehow I do not think that will translate very well. Sure some folks will vote based on the color of their skin versus the color of the skin of the people they are voting for, but I think the racist factors will cancel each other out (i.e. rednecks voting for whites eliminating black folks voting for blacks just because they are blacks). But it will be an interesting three weeks and I think the Heidi voters are more motivated than the Maddox supporters. Same for Girtz versus Sheets.
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