What Can Georgia Democrats in White Working-Class Districts Must Do

Given the reality that simply proposing programs and policies that are objectively in white workers’ interests is insufficient to win their support, Democratic candidates must instead visualize the method of appealing to these voters as a two-stage process.

Dubose Porter

First, they must develop a specific communication and persuasion strategy designed to break through the conservative “bubble” and become accepted as a legitimate part of the political discussion that goes on between the different sectors of the white working-class community. Second, once this is accomplished, they can begin to debate and challenge their Republican opponents regarding specific social and economic policies and programs.

Historically, most Democratic candidates who succeeded in white working-class, small-town districts have followed this kind of approach and always tended to display two major characteristics:

First, they firmly asserted and embraced many key traditional values and cultural markers of the white working class even as they staked out relatively moderate or liberal stances on these subjects.

They would endorse common-sense gun regulations, for example, but also consider gun ownership legitimate and categorically support the rights of citizens to own guns. They would reject the notion that America should impose Christianity on all Americans, but they would assert equally firmly that Christian faith is a positive force in many Americans’ family life, including their own. They would support a variety of populist economic measures but at the same time endorse the virtues of small business and individual initiative that are a part of working-class culture.

Second, they frequently embodied white working-class values in their own personal life and history. Many attended church on Sunday; others had served honorably in the military or had a background in a working-class occupation or as the owner of a small business. Many went hunting on fall weekends, listened to country music in their car, and were able to talk with firsthand knowledge and personal experience about the day-to-day problems of the white working-class people in the neighborhoods and communities they represented. In their personal lives they refuted the accusation that they were educated elitists with no connection to or understanding of ordinary peoples’ lives.

Democrats running in red-leaning districts whether its in South Central Georgia or Northeast Georgia need to spend time in places where people disagree with you. Reach out. Show up and make your argument. People will appreciate it, even if they are not inclined to vote for you. Sometimes you may spend days among crowds where there are almost no Democratic voters in sight. Listen to them, work with them and try to persuade them.

But if a Democrat is on the progressive side or leans that way, one should combine a reassuring cultural style with a practical progressive message on issues that people care about.

It is critical to recognize that the approach many Democratic candidates are taking cuts across the conventional centrist-progressive divide that now so obsesses the media and dominates debate within the Democratic coalition. Some successful Democratic candidates will frame their policies in relatively moderate (though still clearly Democratic) terms, as Lucy McBath did in Georgia 6th Congressional District, while others will campaign on more robust progressive terms like Stacey Abrams did in her bid for Georgia governor. But the success of all the new Democratic candidates will ultimately depend on whether they can win recognition and acceptance as sincere and authentic representatives of their predominantly working-class districts, rather than on any differences in the exact details of their platforms and policies.


In Trump-friendly districts, the central challenge Democrats face is to penetrate the conservative ideological cocoon and convincingly demonstrate to voters that Democrats can once again be their most effective and genuine advocates and representatives.

Georgia Dems, Carter, Nunn, Barrow and the Future

Despite all of the hope and enthusiasm from Georgia Democrats, Tuesday night was a reminder that more work needs to be done in order to be competitive again here in the Peach State.

The biggest problem facing Democrats here in Georgia is their inability to attract white voters and having a message that can appeal to moderates and conservative democrats....plain & simple! Forget Independent Voters because there are no such thing as a TRUE independent voter....most lean either to the democrats or republicans.

Nunn and Carter got under 25% of the white vote, which is not enough to be competitive statewide int he near future. On the bright side, they got close to 30% of the black vote, so despite all the talk about black voters not turning out, they did this year despite voter turnout being at a record low across the country during Tuesday's election.

For all the talk about demographic changes and registering more minority voters they need to do a better job at attracting those who are already registered to vote, black and white. Too much they rely on urban and suburban areas of Atlanta, Lilburn, Albany for their votes and very little on rural, mid-sized areas of Fitzgerald, Swainsboro, Douglas, thus leaving huge swaths of the state to the GOP.

Look at the state legislature, democrats have done a poor job at candidate recruitment on the house and senate side and that starts with the leadership in both chambers. That needs to change and change soon and that starts with electing new leadership who knows that leaving 80% of the republican legislature unchallenged is not good for the state, nor the party. Now is the time for Rep. Scott Holcomb, yes I'm talking to you, to run for minority leader and to locate potential democratic candidates to add to a democratic house caucus that's (with the exception of a dozen legislators) made up of 'Dead Weight" or "Seat Warmers".

Michelle Nunn ran a good race, but she ran the type of race that made National Democrats proud, but on the flip side, this is still the south and this is still Georgia and she didn't put enough emphasis on Georgia and too much on National Issues. Even Rep. Jack Kingston said she didn't exert enough independence from the National Democrats and looking back on it, he's right! That Ferguson mailer did have a negative impact on both Nunn and Carter thus their white support fell below 25%.

DuBose Porter should run for the 12th Congressional District in '16, if he decides to bypass a full four year term as head of the Georgia Democratic Party. Porter came in under tough circumstances to rebuild the state party that hit rock bottom and now is a viable and fully functioning party. And there's always 2018 in which Porter will be in his 60s.

I for one do not see Nunn running for political office again. That's the feeling I get, but who knows.

Jason Carter also ran a good race, but you have to give the Deal Campaign credit for highlighting his experience, which I think hurt Carter towards the end. Why Carter didn't run on expanding medicaid is a question only he can answer. That was a winning issue, but he made very little mention of it. Everyone assumes he will the front runner for governor in 2018, but you better look out for Kasim Reed and possibly John Barrow.

And speaking of Barrow who I call the smartest politician in the entire state, I didn't expect to see him go down to Rick Allen who ran on absolutely nothing, except tying Barrow to Obama, just like Austin Scott who also ran on nothing when he defeated Jim Marshall in 2010 by tying him to Nancy Pelosi.

Barrow is the wildcard here because he has options. He gets to sit back and re-charge his batteries for another "likely" run for office...either for the U.S. Senate in 2016 or for a statewide office in 2018. And it's a longshot, but Barrow could be on a list of possible VP contenders for Hillary Clinton.

Another is Kasim Reed. You know and I know he's going to begin to lay the groundwork for a potential 2018 race. And look over to Columbus, Ga where Teresa Tomlinson (D) will be someone who may look to move up the political ladder if she has a successful second term as mayor of Columbus.

Candidate Recruitment

Recruitment is an activity that parties whether its the Democratic or Republican Party can engage in even if the party is weak on other dimensions of organizational strength. In the case of the Georgia Democratic Party, it must contest races in order to stand any chance of winning office, candidate recruitment is one of the first task for the Georgia Democratic Party. It must be able to recruit candidates, even if the party lacks a grassroots base or significant caucus resources. 

Having said that, here we are in a state that's trending from red to pink and eventually purple, Democrats are still having difficulty locating, recruiting, targeting candidates for legislative.....and even so far statewide contests. I'll talk about statewide contest later.

With qualifying looming early next month, the success of candidate recruitment in the legislature will depend on the House Democratic & Senate Democratic caucus willingness to accept democrats who are in the mold of a, say John Barrow, a conservative, but independent-minded democrat who doesn't toe the party line on every substantive issue that comes before them. Especially in the House where minority leader Stacey Abrams, a unabashed liberal who I say is wary of any Democrat hailing below I-20 or below Macon running as Bluedog Moderate or Conservative Democrat. And that maybe because of rash party switchers that has occurred over the past 4,6,8 yrs (Dems from largely rural areas switching to GOP). But those days (Party Switching) are over, I believe.


Now let me offer Dem's some advice:

Make a list of likely prospects, and analyze for strengths and weaknesses & then select a final few to approach. If possible, get to know prospective candidates personally before ever mentioning their running for office. Try to determine their level of integrity, energy, etc.  

Meet face to face with the potential candidate to discuss the potential of running for office. If possible, get an elected democrat to help with the approach. The face to face meeting is an important step, and help you find out what they are interested in, what time commitments they can make, and what issues they are addressing in their lives that might impact their ability to run. Help find solutions to potential barriers they may put up against running: (if parents, they may need day care; if low income, they will need financial support; if working, they may be very busy and not able to commit a lot of time to run). 

Talk about issues; make sure there is a philosophical agreement between the party and candidate. It doesn't have to be 100%. If the candidate agrees with 65-70% with the philosophy of the Party of Jefferson (Thomas) & Jackson (Andrew), then that should be the green light. An ideal candidate should have their own network of support outside the Democratic Party. Certainly y'all can offer solid support, but the candidate must bring SOME resources to the table. Be clear with expectations of time and money being  spent, among other things.

And one more thing and I've said this before, the best candidate are the ones who's background and life story fit into the district he or she is running in! REMEMBER THAT!!

With qualifying weeks away, there maybe too little time to go through each of these, but if I were in charge of recruiting, this is the process I would use when seeking potential candidates for House or Senate Districts.

Porter Elected as Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party

On Saturday in Newnan, Democrats elected Former House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) as its next Chairman of the Georgia Democratic Party, replacing Mike Berlon who resigned a few months. Porter defeated Former State Sen. Doug Stoner & current Georgia Democratic Party Vice-Chairman RJ Hadley. Over 200 plus members gathered at Wadsworth Auditorium in Coweta Couty, the birthplace of Ellis Arnall who served as governor from 1943-47 & was one of Georgia's first Progressive Democrats.

I was mildly surprised that Porter won, my money was on Doug Stoner because he had strong backing from Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, ex-Governor Roy Barnes, State Sen. Jason Carter, grandson of former president James E. "Jimmy" Carter.

Porter's connections to Rural Georgia will be critical for democrats as they begin to rebuild the once-dominant party from the ashes. With all the talk about fundraising, which is a must, candidate recruitment is also vital and it has to start on the local whether its County Commissioner or State Senator. The next move will be who will Porter name as executive director of the Georgia Democratic Party, which is the next critical move for the party.

Cobb County Democrat & State Senator Doug Stoner announces bid for Chair of the GA Democratic Party

"It is critical to connect Democrats around the State. Just as we've seen in the Georgia Legislature the priority of metro and rural citizens may not be the same. So it is with Democrats. It will be incumbent on our party's next leader to build consensus to ensure our success. I believe I have demonstrated that I can successfully build and lead that effort"Former State Sen. Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna) in a press release a few days ago, who announced his intentions to seek the Chairmanship for the Georgia Democratic Party.

Prior to his service in the Georgia State Senate, Sen. Stoner served one term in the Georgia House of
Representatives during 2002-2004. In 2004, Sen. Stoner was elected to the State Senate, and he was
overwhelmingly re-elected by his constituents in 2006, 2008 and 2010. During his service, Sen. Stoner has received numerous awards including: the Outstanding Legislator Leadership award from the American Cancer Society (2003 and 2004), the Outstanding Leadership award  from the Georgia Alliance for Tobacco Prevention (2005), the Local Distinguished Service Award from  the American Public Transportation Association (2004), the Georgia Association of Emergency Medical  Services Star of Life, Legislative Award (2007 and 2008), the Georgia Association of Educators  Legislator of the Year (2005), the Cobb County Association of Educators Cheryl C. Rice Friend of  Education Award (2005), Legislative awards from the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia  and the Georgia Municipal Association (2009 and 2010), the Georgia Conservation Voters  Environmental Leadership Award (2006, 2008, and 2010), and the Outstanding Legislator Award from  the Georgia Council on Aging (2010).

Stoner joins former State Sen. Mary Squires, current DPG Vice Chairman of County Parties RJ Hadley & Keyantwon Stephens of Athens, Ga.

Two other names that continues to receive attention are Former Gubernatorial candidate & House Minority Leader DuBose Porter of Dublin & Tharon Johnson, who led campaigns for John Barrow & John Lewis.

A look Ahead To Georgia 2014 Governor's Race

It's not too late to look ahead to 2014 where all of Georgia's Constitutional offices will be up for grabs from Governor to State School Superintendent.

Its very possible that we could have some Statewide offices go unopposed like what happened in Louisiana because of the very thin and weak bench of prospective Democratic Candidates for office.

Let's look at the potential candidates for governor:



Michael Thurmond

Ex-Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. Thurmond was Labor Commissioner from 1998-2010. He made a ill fated attempt for the U.S. Senate in 2010, which still leaves me scratching my head as to why he would want to challenge popular Senator Johnny Isakson.



Jim Marshall

Former Congressman Jim Marshall. Marshall served from 2001 to 2010 as congressman of the old 3rd & current 8th district. Marshall, a Vietnam Veteran & former Mayor of Macon would be the democrat's strongest candidate if he were to make one final run for office.

DuBose Porter

Former State Rep. DuBose Porter. Porter was State Rep from 1982 to 2010 'til he left to run for governor. Porter would be the democrats second strongest candidate for governor. He hails from Conservative leaning Laurens County & his like Marshall, knows what it takes for democrats to win in rural Georgia.

Former State Rep. Rob Teilhet. Teilhet mounted a unsuccessful bid for Attorney General in 2010. Teilhet was of the democrats young rising stars in the party.


Ron Teilhet



Thurbert Baker

Former Attorney General Thurbert Baker. Baker, a moderate to conservative African-American Democrat could make another run for the job. Question about Baker is whether or not he has the belly..which was one of my chief concerns about him.



John Barrow

***DARKHORSE Congressman John Barrow. Barrow faces a tough re-election bid in a district (12th)  that now extends south into Appling, Coffee counties. I don't want to see this happen because Barrow is doing a fine job serving the folks in the 12th & should be re-elected for another term in November. But if doesn't win re-election (which I think he will) he will definitely get a serious push to run for governor. Barrow, a Conservative Democrat has a independent streak, is a fierce campaigner, a great fundraiser, appeal among African-Americans & has deep roots in Rural Georgia three things that are needed in a democratic candidate in this state

And I think its safe to say that Roy Barnes won't be running for a third time around!

Any Democratic Candidate who is eyeing a run for governor in 2014 needs to begin laying the groundwork in early 2013

(GA-8) DuBose in 2012: Should or will he challenge Austin Scott?

With the 2012 elections on the horizon, its time to address the elephant in the room, the $100,000 question: Should DuBose Porter challenge Austin Scott for the 8th Congressional District?

There's no doubt in my mind that Porter will run for governor again in 2014. I'll be surprised if he doesn't, but what about congress?

I remember Porter stating awhile back that he had no interest in going to Washington.

You wonder what his answer would be if asked that question again?

Porter would be the ideal candidate to run for that Middle Georgia based seat formerly occupied by then Rep Jim Marshall. I think he'd run one of the best congressional campaigns in the country if he were to challenge Scott.

Porter has some experience dealing with Washington Politics, having interned for Iconic Georgia Senator, democrat Sam Nunn in the late 70s. He served as one of Zell Miller's floor lieutenants when Miller was governor of the state, & has the leading advocates for education here in the state.

He is a small business owner, operating the Courier Herald,as well as the Soperton News, the Montgomery Monitor, and the Wheeler County Eagle, the Johnson Journal, the Twiggs Times New Era and the Cochran Journal, the Wilkinson County Post and in 2006 they purchased The Baldwin Bulletin.

Although some will say he didn't perform that well in the primary for governor, Porter ran a very aggressive grassroots campaign for governor, visiting more that 100 counties in the state. If he were to implement that same strategy in a race for the 8th, he'll have a good chance against Scott, (that is if he were to run). Porter's crossover appeal would be a added bonus in his arsenal. Something Marshall had when he controlled that seat for 9 years. Farmers love him, educators adore him, lower class status blacks & whites are drawn to his populistic approach & veterans appreciate him.

With the future of Macon-Bibb County up in the air, that should discourage Porter from running. I mean, let's face it, Laurens County is no liberal bastion with its mix of social & christian conservatism, so Porter wouldn't have any problem running in a much more rural district.

Porter's populism would go over well & let's not forget about Scott's vote for Paul Ryan's Medicare Reform that would cut $4.4 trillion from the federal budget over 10 years, eliminate the health care law passed last year, slash domestic spending and completely overhaul some of the nation’s entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid by issuing vouchers among other things. Under Ryan’s Medicare plan, the federal government would issue vouchers to seniors to purchase their own health care insurance in a private market. It would only apply to those ages 55 and younger & it even has many democrats saying that it would end medicare. That vote may or may not come back to haunt Scott, but that remains to be seen. If seniors start to become worried about their medicare, medicaid & social security, that voting bloc will up for grabs for Porter or any potential democratic challenger.

On the other hand, Porter may still be eyeing another run for governor in 2014 (without the shadow of Roy Barnes to fight thru). A run & loss for congress would put his political career on the ropes so he may not want to take that chance. A 2012 win would open the door for his wife Carol Porter to run for governor (which she would be the odds on favorite to win the democratic nomination).

I'm sure many democrats would love to see Porter take a swing at the 8th District seat. Its just a question of does Porter wants to?

Can Austin Scott be beat in 2012?

Austin Scott (R-Ashburn) who rode the anti-government, anti-democratic, anti-.........well, anything wave to victory over Conservative Democrat Jim Marshall (D-Macon) last year will face re-election in 2012, this time as the incumbent.

Scott hasn't sponsored any legislation, but has co-sponsored on other pieces of legislation ranging from among other things: H.R.2 : Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act.

The current 8th District as we know it will change drastically to strengthened his hold on the conservative leaning district which at last check is R+12. His decision not to open a office in Macon was a signal that the GOP-controlled legislature will relocate Macon-Bibb County into either Sanford Bishop's 2nd District, or into John Barrow's 12th District to possibly keep Jim Marshall from running for his former seat, but as I said before, I think Marshall days as Congressman are over & he maybe looking at governor or Senate in 2014. Or they could do what they have doneto other democratic strongholds like Chatham, Richmond & Muscogee: Split Bibb County into two different congressional districts.

One vote that could get Scott in trouble & that is his yes vote for Rep Paul Ryan's controversial budget plan that according to some will cut programs that provide a safety net or work to improve life for all Americans, especially senior citizens & that it would end medicare & medicaid as we know it. The vote was along party lines with Georgia's John Barrow & Oklahoma's Dan Boren being two of 5 democrats to vote in favor of the legislation.

I'm not at liberty to say who could be a possible challenger to Austin Scott in 2012 because no one knows how his district will look after the state legislature meet in August to re-draw both congressional & local districts. I've heard names such as DuBose Porter who have said in the past that he's not interested in going to Washington, but could he be persuaded? Then there's Carol Porter, who no doubt in my mind will be running for something in the future. Could it be congress? I don't see it, but who knows. I think she maybe eyeing a run for governor in 3 years or Lt. Governor. Either Porter would be strong candidates to run against Scott due to their Central Georgia Base, their strong family values, faith & their ability to speak the word of the working man.

One other person who could be just as strong as both Dubose & Carol Porter:

Carlton "Carl"Camon, former mayor of Ray City & 2010 Gubernatorial Candidate.

Camon, a 41 year old Christian Conservative Democrat would be my first choice if I were making the decision.

As many of you know, I speak in high praise of Camon because he's a man of deep faith & principle. He's the kind of candidate the party needs in its ranks.


Camon served over ten years in the US Air Force and Air Force Reserve. He received a “below the zone” promotion and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-5). His service in the military convinced him of the need to maintain a strong national defense. Having served in the USAF would give him a distinct advantage over Scott when it comes to courting the military vote, as well as retired veteran who were key in helping Jim Marshall, a Veteran of the Armed Forces himself in his various runs for re-election.

He received Associate degrees from Georgia Military College and the Community College of the Air Force. He also earned Bachelor, Masters, and Specialist degrees in education from Valdosta State University.

His political career began in 1993 as a member of Ray City’s city council where he served two terms. Later, he became the first African-American mayor of Ray City, which is 88% white, eventually serving five terms from 1996 through 1997 and 2000 through 2009. As Ray City mayor, he helped to start Georgia’s first municipal pre-k

In a district where the democratic bench is rather thin, you can put up any of these three against Scott & have one hell of a race. Now is Scott Vulnerable? Looking at the district, you would say no, but hey no body expect Marshall to last as long as he did, so it depends on what type of candidate is running against Scott...........Plain & Simple!

Ross Tolleson, Sanford Bishop, Austin Scott & the outlook in 2012

Don't rule it out. With a special session on the horizon to re-draw the congressional districts its not out of the realm of possibility that republicans could put Austin Scott into the 2nd Congressional District to go up against Sanford Bishop i 2012.

Here's why I think it may happen

I remember back in 2009 when republicans were trying to find a challenger to Jim Marshall for 2010. Early on it was thought that State Senator Ross Tolleson would make a run at Marshall, but he decided against it at the time, because he wanted to wait until his twin daughters finish high school. This was back in 2009 when he said this. He has made no secret that he wants to run for congress & 2012 seems like the best time since the GOP now have control of the House.

Wait..........

The one obstacle standing in his way is Austin Scott & he just defeated Bluedog Democrat Jim Marshall in the wave election that helped him in that quest.

So what a man to do?

Well this where redistricting comes in play

Scott by some accounts is not well liked by some in the GOP up there in the state house. If Tolleson still has aspirations for a run for higher office, then they'll do what it takes to make the path for Tolleson as easy as they can & that means lumping Scott into the second against Sanford Bishop who narrowly escaped defeat by Mike Keown.

The Georgia GOP can say 'hey if can knock off one democratic incumbent, why not another" Its something to think about here. No way Tolleson runs if Scott is still in the 8th. No way, No how!

A open 8th Congressional District would be much more appealing to Tolleson that one occupied by another GOPer in Scott. Making that move will have consequences for the Georgia GOP. Despite Scott defeating Marshall, he won't defeat Bishop in '12. With those divorce records now unsealed with all sorts of unsavory accusations hurled by his wife against him & vice-versa, the luster, the shine of Austin Scott will be long gone. Plus you can expect the district to become more democratic with the state still being under the VRA of 1965 & in a presidential year, democratic voters will turn out at a higher level that in 2010

If this happens, not only you will have not only a open 8th District seat, but a open State Senate seat in Central Georgia, which will be a prime opportunity. Nelson Carswell who ran for HD 143 last year would be the ideal candidate democrats could recruit to run for that Senate Seat in the 20th district. DuBose Porter, if he have the urges to go back to Atlanta could be another potential candidate, but I doubt it. Governor is in his future if he decides to make another in 3 years. He's only in his mid 50s.

An Austin Scott-Sanford Bishop matchup may well happen next year. But all hinges on Ross Tolleson & his apirations for higher office

Its never too early: A look ahead to 2014 for Georgia Democrats

Ok! With the 2010 elections now long gone, its time to ponder on 2014 & who may run on the democratic side.

On the senate side, Saxby Chambliss will be up for re-election, as well as every single republican statewide officeholder who won last year in the GOP Tsunami.

So who could step up to the plate for the democrats here in Georgia?

There are alot of different scenarios that could arise when 2014 rolls around, but let's take a stab at it.

On the senate side, two names comes to mind when talking about a possible challenge to Chambliss. (1) Former Congressman Jim Marshall & (2) Michael Thurmond.

Marshall was done in more by the Tsunami that swept Georgia just like it did all over the country than the campaign strategy of Austin Scott in my opinion. Marshall, a moderately conservative democrat haven't ruled out another & final run for office & since he has served in the House of Representatives, only the senate remain in his sights. It won't be the first time Marshall & Chambliss squared off against each other. In 2000, Marshall, then mayor of Macon lost to then-congressman Chambliss by 59-41%. Both men had a good working relationship while Marshall was in Washington because of common interest like RAFB, Agriculture, etc.

Thurmond left a "safe" seat in Labor Commissioner to take on popular Johnny Isakson for the senate. Looking back at the election in november, Thurmond would have gotten swept out of office just like all of the other democrats in the south despite his stellar record as Labor Commish. Thurmond ran a lackluster campaign with weak fundraising to boot. I seriously doubt that's the way Thurmond wants to be remembered. I made the suggestion last year that Thurmond remain at Labor to then run for the senate against Chambliss in 2014.

Governor: Nathan Deal perhaps became the weakest candidate to become governor of Georgia in decades with one allegation after another hanging over his head. Any other year, he might not have won the election for governor with all those things swirling around him. There are three potential candidates for the democrats.

(1) Former Lt Governor candidate & Businesswoman Carol Porter (2) Former State Rep DuBose Porter (3) Jim Marshall (4) Michael Thurmond

Porter (Carol) bust onto the scene with her passionate speech to the NFIB last summer in place of her husband & candidate DuBose Porter. After that, on her own terms she decided to run for Lt Governor due to no other democrat stepping up to the plate. She got just as many votes as did Roy Barnes on a budget that was barely $1 million dollars. She has left a built in base of grassroots support in Georgia. If she decides to run, she will need to shore up Central & South Georgia, where she didn't spend quite as much time at in comparison to Metro Atlanta & North Georgia.

Porter (DuBose) was unsuccessful in his first bid at statewide office. Porter had been a state legislator out of Central Ga since 1982 before giving up his seat to run for governor. Porter is one of the few remaining white, rural democrats still left in the party after 9 others bolted to the GOP. With Roy Barnes political career now a done deal, 2014 maybe the year Porter decides to give it one more try. Plus he's only 57 years old, so he still has alot of political fight left in him. Especially with Education being targeted yet again by the GOP he will have a issue to run with.

Marshall could run for governor & be successful at it. He shares the same central Georgia base along with Carol & Dubose Porter . Having represented a district that ran from the Atl suburbs to the Ga-Fla State line, his connections will be a plus if he guns for the governorship.

Thurmond had eyes on running for governor last year. That was before Thurbert Baker got in the race, which threw a wrench in those plans. Thurmond's communication skills & ability to connect on a personal level with hard working families makes him a threat. He will have to do a better job at fundraising & building a better grassroots organization on the ground

Lt Governor: Casey Cagle at first was thought to run for governor, but had a change of heart & decided to stay at Lt Gov due to "health" issues. He could be a candidate for governor if Deal who is 68 decides not to run for re-election in 2014. Cagle was stripped of most of his power by the GOP majority in the senate, making him ineffective.

Potential candidates here include: (1) Cattle Farmer & State Senator J.B. Powell (2) Former State Rep Rob Teilhet (3) Former Gubernatorial candidate Carl Camon (4) Augusta mayor Deke Copenhaver (5) Thurbert Baker

Powell ran for agriculture commissioner last year losing to Gary Black. Powell, a conservative democrat, a country boy was State Senator of the 23rd District. He could mount another run for his old seat next year. He could have another democratic challenger for that seat in Chuck Pardue of Rural Richmond County. Powell's aw-shucks persona & bluecollar background will appeal to bluecollar types who reside in rural Georgia. A+ rating from NRA

Teilhet, a young energetic democrat lost to South Georgia Democrat Ken Hodges for the nomination for Attorney General. Teilhet future in politics is still bright. He hails from Cobb County where he was succeeded by Stacey Godfrey-Evans in the Statehouse. At age 36, Teilhet is someone to keep an eye on. He could run for Attorney General again, but who knows.

Camon is the former mayor of Ray City, Ga located in Berrien County. Camon, a conservative democrat had a message that resonated with alot of voters, but when you don't have $ behind you, it makes it hard for the rest of the state to hear your message. Camon is the new blood that the party needs to re-invigorate itself after a demoralizing defeat at the polls in 2010. The former USAF Veteran & Gulf War Veteran is a man of deep faith, which scares the hell out of many democrats who aren't so much into religion. I was sold on Camon when I first met him at a outing over in Houston Co back in 2009. At age 41, he's has a future in Georgia Politics. He was recognized as Georgia Trend's top 40 under 40 a few years ago

Coperhaver is the mayor of Georgia's second largest city, Augusta. He was first elected in 2005 to carry out a unexpired term & later elected in 2006 & 2010 as a independent. In 2003, he was recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of Georgia’s “Top Forty Under Forty”. In 2006 and 2008, he was named a Notable Georgian by Georgia Trend Magazine and in 2007, 2009,2010 and 2011 was named as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians. Although a independent, Coperhaver could be persuaded to run as a democratic moderate if he so chooses to run for higher office in the future. At age 43, he is a very attractive candidate to run statewide.

Baker ran & lost the nomination for governor last year. He was the Attorney General, appointed by then governor Zell Miller in 1997. Baker a centrist with a conservative streak may want to give it another try three years from now. Baker co-sponsered the two strikes law & has gotted a A+ rating from NRA

Its never soon to speculate, but as of right now these are the names that comes to mind in talking about 2014 for Georgia Democrats.

DuBose Porter, Carol Porter in 2014?

With 2010 in the books, its time to wonder what lies ahead for democrats as they took a thumpin' last week.

What does the future holds for the Porters of Laurens County?

Porter (DuBose) gave his seat to run a unsuccessful campaign for governor. He is, in my opinion the next democrat in line to take a stab at another run for governor in 2014 against Nathan Deal, or whoever.

Let's not forget he's only 57 years old, so he still has some political life left in him since this was his first run for statewide office.

He ran a impressive grassroots campaign, but he couldn't beat the deep pocket donors of Roy Barnes in his bid to become the democratic nominee. Plus being minority leader at the time in the legislature, he didn't have the time to get his message out there to the people.

He's a graduate of Davidson College, interned for then US Senator Sam Nunn, he served as Administration Floor Leader in the House of Representatives to Governor Zell Miller. In January 2003, Porter was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives.

I asked a question yesterday would the result been different had Porter was the nominee against Nathan Deal? Probably, but who knows?

Porter is in prime positon to make another run for governor in 2014, but its a question whether or not he will.

Then there's his dynamic wife & former Lt. Governor Carol Porter who came out of nowhere to make a strong run at Casey Cagle, garnering around 42% of the vote for a so-called novice candidate.

She wowed crowds with her fiery speeches, got high praise from unlikely republican supporters such as Macon CityCouncilman Erick Erickson of Redstate.Com. She stepped up when no other democrat was willing to challenge Casey Cagle because let's face it, it was "FEAR" that kept some other dems from challenging Cagle. Despite being unsuccessful, she has left a built in infrastructure for another run for office in 2014 as well, possibly for governor, Lt. Governor or another office down the line.

2010 elections was one of those rare instances that only happen every so-often, so 2014 could be the year that these two strong, viable candidates can resuscitate the party once & for all.

Looking at the Democratic Bench, there isn't much to work with:
Rob Teilhet
Michael Thurmond
Thurbert Baker
Jim Marshall.

Other Possibilities are:

David Adelman, ex-State Senator & current US Ambassador of Singapore
Ed Tarver, ex-State Senator & U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

DuBose Porter on Water, Transportation, Etc.

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Presser from the DuBose Porter Campaign: Endorsements

DuBose Porter, candidate for Governor in 2010, today received endorsements from Macon area public officials and other community leaders. They Include Senate Democratic Leader Robert Brown (D-Macon)

State Representative Nikki Randall (D-Macon)

State Representative David Lucas (D-Macon)

State Representative Bubber Epps (D-Twiggs Co.)

Rick Hutto, Macon City Council member

Larry Schlesinger, Macon City Council member

Joe Allen, Bibb County Commissioner

Lonzy Edwards, Bibb County Commission member

Kathryn Epps, Twiggs County Commission member

James Vaughn, Monroe County Commission Chairman

Jim Hamm, Monroe County Commissioner

John Wilson, Middle Georgia Environmentalist

Dr. Ty Ivey, dentist and conservationist

Jim Crisp, Macon Theatre Company.

The following statements were issued on why DuBose Porter is the best candidate for Governor:

Senate Democratic Leader Robert Brown said, “DuBose can carry our state forward, black and white, rural and urban, and is the best candidate for Governor of the state of Georgia.”

State Representative David Lucas said, “DuBose knows the issues and he knows how to fight for middle Georgia.”

Rick Hutto, Macon City Council member, said, “I can’t imagine anyone in middle Georgia who would vote for anyone else other than DuBose Porter. I am proud to support DuBose Porter for Governor.”

Larry Schlesinger, Macon City Council member, said, “I like his positions on passenger rail. I support his position on education and applaud his concern for economic development. But most importantly, he is a true human being because he talks to you and not at you.”

Joe Allen, Bibb County Commissioner, said, “We have not had a Governor south of the gnat-line take up for Macon in a long time. DuBose will do that and I encourage everyone who voted for me to vote for DuBose Porter for Governor.”

Lonzy Edwards, Bibb County Commission member, said, “This election is about the future of the state. DuBose is a leader and a visionary. Support him for three reasons, Jobs, jobs and jobs.”

Kathryn Epps, Twiggs County Commission member, said, “He walks the walk and talks the talk.”

James Vaughn, Monroe County Commissioner, said, “As a county commissioner the challenge has been on how to deal with local government with an adversarial relationship with the state. That will change with DuBose Porter as Governor.”

Jim Hamm, Monroe County Commission member, said, “I believe he will work for the entire state of Georgia and would be a great Governor.”

John Wilson, Middle Georgia Environmentalist, said, “DuBose Porter has been working on protecting land along the Ocmulgee River for years and no one will be better on the environment than DuBose Porter as Governor.”

Dr. Ty Ivey, dentist and conservationist, said, “DuBose is a former board member of the Nature Conservancy which I strongly support. Not only are his credentials on the environment unprecedented but we need his talents to get our state through this tough time.”

Jim Crisp, head of the Macon Theatre Company, said, “DuBose understands the arts and how it impacts economic development. He has sincerity and vision which is why he has my vote.”

State Representative Nikki Randall has come down with the flu and will issue a statement later.

What knd of impact will these have on election day for DuBose? I don't know. This is his base, Middle Georgia & if he doesn't perform well here on July 20, its lights out for his campaign.

DuBose Porter Visits Appling County

Candidate for Georgia Governor DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) made a stop in Baxley last Wednesday, along with his son, Asa. Porter is currently a member of the Georgia House and is also the editor of The (Dublin) Courier Herald. Dubose stated that he is in the process of visiting every county in the state in his bid for governor

Porter talked to The News-Banner about some of his top concerns, including education, transportation and water. Concerning education, Porter commented that he has fought against $3 billion in cuts to public education since 2003 and sponsored HB1397, The Salary Protection Act, in 2010 session to stop teacher furloughs and put a firewall around teacher salaries. He also added that the state has got to return the funding formula for education to at least a 60/40 formula, meaning the state pays for 60 percent of the cost to educate a child and a county pays the remaining 40 percent. Porter stated that the formula is currently an approximate 50/50 share, which he said puts a considerable burden on local taxpayers through property taxes.

Democratic candidates visited Decatur County last week

SPEAKING AT A FORUM for Democratic candidates who attended a meet-and-greet at the Kirbo Center at Bainbridge College on Thursday, are, from the left, R.J. Hadley, Ted Snell, a representative for Sanford Bishop, David Holt, Gail Buckner, Darryl Hicks, Marjean Boyd, David Poythress, Brian Westlake, Michael Mills, Beth Farokhi and Dubose Porter.


Democratic candidates running for local, regional and statewide offices gathered at the Kirbo Center on Thursday to talk with a small group of potential voters.

The candidates visited Bainbridge to attend a meet-and-greet sponsored by the Decatur County Democratic Party.

Read here: The Post-Searchlight | Democratic candidates visit

DuBose Porter Press Conference Yesterday at the State Capitol

The Grassroots Campaign of DuBose Porter

On DuBose Porter's website, the campaign has unveiled an impressive crop of pictures of DuBose's travels all across Georgia, visiting counties like Whitfield to Clinch County. Here are just a few:






CRISP COUNTY



CLAY COUNTY





FANNIN COUNTY







MACON COUNTY







MARION COUNTY








Whitfield County


GO TO WEBSITE WWW.PORTERFORGEORGIA.COM TO VIEW THE REST OF THE PICS

DuBose Porter Press Conference at the State Capitol on Tuesday Jun 29

Who: DuBose Porter, candidate for Governor, and Marie Hooks, Principal of Saxon Heights Elementary School in Dublin, GA

What: Press Conference

Where: South Wing of State Capitol

When: 1:00 pm on Tuesday, June 29th

Why: Principal Hooks will discuss how DuBose Porter helped them turn around Saxon Heights Elementary School from having some of the lowest reading scores in the state to now being a top Title I elementary school. DuBose Porter will outline his priorities and vision for education.

Why DuBose Porter maybe the better candidate against the GOP in November

Many credit DuBose Porter for keeping the Georgia Democratic Party together after the democrats lost control of the governor's mansion, as well as both chambers of the state legislature when democrats lost both due to party switching & retirements by long-time democratic state reps & senators.

Porter was elected in 1982, challenging the then old guard democrats, some having been in office since the 1940s. Porter interned in Washington, D. C., for then Georgia Senator Sam Nunn (D-Perry). In 1991 and 1992, he served as Administration Floor Leader in the House of Representatives to Governor Zell Miller. In January 2003, Porter was elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives. He has served as Chairman of Education as well as Chairman of Higher Education.

Porter has many accomplishments under his belt & just as qualified to be governor. But democrats seem to rather go back to the past & have Roy Barnes as the democratic nominee as governor in 2010. Nothing wrong with that. But why renominate someone who lost his re-election bid in 2002 to a unknown Sonny Perdue for without a shadow of a doubt the most important election the Georgia Democratic Party has faced ever?

The Democratic Party pipeline of prospects is almost empty. This is the time for new people to lead the party into the future, with a new vision & ideas to strengthened the party. I'm not saying the Barnes doesn't have those things, but you talk about someone who lost about 120,000 or more votes in 2002. Teachers, despite his apologies haven't totally forgotten what he tried to do in 2002, while some have.

Porter has fought his heart out for public schools here in Georgia, while the GOP have been trying to ram school vouchers through the legislature for years, which will deprive public schools of funding, which as a result will weakened them. He has fought for teachers his entire career, against furloughs & pay cuts. You'd think the GAE Georgia Association of Educators would have hastily thrown their endorsement behind him.

No doubt him serving in the legislature has hurt him somewhat by fundraising & getting out there & getting his message out, but one would think democrats would be eagerly clamoring for the candidacy for DuBose Porter. He has done alot for the democrats here in Georgia & democrats, in my opinion owe him alot for even being somewhat relevant in a GOP-controlled Legislature.

When the party was down & out, where was Roy Barnes? After his lost, he took his ball & went home & started a very successful law practice.

Where was Thurbert Baker? As the top vote getter in the 2006 elections, he could have been the leader of the party, but he chose to stay behind close doors & keep a low profile.

Gen. David Poythress was serving as State Adjuntant General during those years, so you can't harp any blame on him, but he has returned to Ga Politics after a 11 Yr absence.

Only Dubose was there when the party needed him. It was a difficult task for him to keep the party together after the disaster of 2002 & to keep the few democrats who were comptemplating a switch to th GOP. Porter deserves alot of credit, but its a shame that democrats haven't given him his due for all of his hard work.

Roy Barnes is not a bad guy. I met once earlier this year & he is as good as they come, but the fear I have, as well as other democrats is will Georgians re-elect him for a second time? Only Eugene Talmadge has been re-elected on two different occasions. Tha's a hard question to answer.

Porter has a base that democrats need to compete for: Middle Georgia. Like I said in a earlier post, democrats can't keep plowing the same field over & over, expecting to see results in their favor.

What I mean is they can't keep relying on the same areas that are traditionally democratic (Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Bibb, Muscogee, Chatham, Clarke, Dougherty & the Rural Black Belt Counties) for victories in the General Election.

They got to get back into places like Homerville, Alamo, Cordele, LaGrange, Ludowici, Douglas, Eatonton, Greensboro, Greenville, rural areas of the state if they want to statrt winning again. To do that, democrats need to nominate a candidate that go to these places & bring back conservative democrats into the party, as well as independents & republican voters & that why Porter or Poythress are the type of candidates that can do exactly that. I'm just not sure if Barnes can do that, although he has spent more time in Rural Georgia than he did in 2002.

And democrats need a fighter in that governor's mansion & someone who will rebuild the democratic party back to its prominence. This is not a endorsement of Porter, that'll come July 1, but what I'm saying is democrats got to get it right on July 20 & possibly the runoff. Democrats, in my opinion only reason in supporting Barnes is money! If that's the reason in supporting Barnes & not the solutions part of it, democrats are going to regret it. Money isn't everything folks, but if you don't have a compelling message to go with it, well you know the rest.

Porter wins Peach Pundit Straw Poll, receives praise from AJC'c Jay Bookman

DuBose Porter was the clear choice for Governor in a recent straw poll for Democratic Candidates on Peach Pundit, a prominent statewide political blog. To view the results, click on the link: http://www.peachpundit.com/2010/06/14/peach-pundit-straw-polls-governor/

Jay Bookman, a prominent political columnist, also recently noted, "Without Barnes in the race, the other three major Democratic candidates - Thurbert Baker, DuBose Porter and David Poythress - would be waging a spirited fight for the nomination. Whoever survived that battle might have proved a stronger candidate than Barnes will be. That's particularly true of Porter, an honest, level-headed legislative leader who has earned respect from those on both sides of the aisle."

To read the entire article click here: http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2010/06/15/national-trends-will-hurt-georgia-democrats-in-2010/?cxntfid=blogs_jay_bookman_blog

DuBose Porter is the only clear choice who can lead the Democrats to victory in November. With a solid Middle Georgia base, Porter's supporters will show their strength on Election Day. Hailing from rural Georgia, DuBose Porter is the only candidate who can attract the votes outside of Atlanta needed in the Democratic Primary to unite the state and win. DuBose can go to cities such as Americus, Darien, Hawkinsville and Blairsville with credibility on why it is in rural Georgia's best interest to help Metro Atlanta. As House Democratic Leader, he has worked closely with urban and suburban lawmakers and has been a strong advocate for MARTA, the Beltline, and passenger rail.

Furthermore, DuBose Porter has widespread support among teachers because he is the only candidate who has helped turn around a failing school. Georgia's teachers are expected to produce miracles. Instead of blaming them, DuBose will give the state's valuable educators the tools to succeed in the classroom.

DuBose Porter is widely respected inside and outside Metro Atlanta. He has shown his commitment to Georgia's valuable educators. This combination of respect and commitment is the reason why DuBose Porter is the best choice to lead Democrats to victory in November.


Porter is making his big push as July 20 primaries nears. Despite Barnes lead in the polls, there's a ground swell of support growing around Porter, as well as Poythress.