Politico’s Jeanne Cummings has an interesting story about the dilemma facing the President-Elect when it comes to next month’s runoff in the Georgia Senate race. Does he risk some of his political capital by campaigning for Democrat Jim Martin or sit tight and let it play out?
Obama should split the baby by staying out of the state but deploying his formidable e-mail list. He’s got A LOT of supporters who want to be active and I bet they will be excited by the opportunity to stay engaged by donating to Martin.
By doing so, he’d get credit with the Senate leadership while not risking his personal prestige in the event that Martin loses the runoff to Saxby Chambliss. For that matter, he could also deploy the email list on behalf of Democratic candidates Franken and Begich whose races are still up in the air.
Filed under: 2008 Senate Race, Congress, Politics | Tagged: 2008 Senate Race, Al Franken, Barack Obama, Democrats, email list, Georgia, Georgia Senate Race, Jeanne Cummings, Jim Martin, Mark Begich, Obama's Dilemma, Phil Singer, Politico, president-elect, Runoff, Saxby Chambliss
He should stay hands-off this race. If he campaigns here, he could be seen as desperately pushing for a 60-seat majority. Americans would still prefer divided government.