Some Dems say they see change coming to GOP-dominant county
By Valerie Baldowski and Daniel Silliman
At a recent rally with the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, the Henry County Democratic Party threw a few taunts at the county's GOP.
Pointing to the small but energetic crowd, John Nichols crowed: "Do you believe us now?"
The run-off between Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Democratic challenger Jim Martin and other run-offs, including contests for the Georgia State Appeals Court and Public Service Commission-District 4, are set for Dec. 2.
People in most counties can began early voting Monday. Here are early voting times and locations in metro Atlanta:
Jim Martin could only watch last week as top national Republicans descended on Georgia to campaign for his opponent in the Dec. 2 U.S. Senate runoff.
Martin is getting some big-name assistance of his own this week.
Former President Bill Clinton will return to Atlanta on Wednesday to campaign for Martin, who seeks to upset incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
In response to a mounting budget shortfall, legislators plan to offer greater flexibility to Georgia school districts struggling with more state mandates and less state funding.
Unfortunately, the General Assembly's version of flexibility is similar to taking children to a wondrous toy store, pointing out all the tempting games and dolls and then handing them a dollar apiece to buy whatever they want.
Transportation woes could cost Georgia 320,000 potential jobs and $515 billion in economic benefits over the next 20 years if the state sticks to "business as usual," according to a new state report released Thursday.
Traffic jams and the lack of access to reliable transportation in metro Atlanta will increasingly limit the number of jobs people can commute to, and the number of potential workers an employer can expect to attract, according to the study presented to the state Transportation
Gov. Sonny Perdue has decided to award an $873 million computer services contract to a sole bidder, even though he scrapped a similar single-bid deal he inherited when he took office in 2003.
The Georgia Technology Authority has declared it intends to award the massive contract within a week or so to IBM. The contract, put out to bid in December, initially had three companies seeking the deal. But EDS and Northrop Grumman dropped out.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has chosen the day of John McCain's visit to Georgia to launch a round of TV commercials attacking Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss.
The ad below specifically notes Chambliss' vote against the expansion of the federal-state children's health insurance program - which in Georgia is called PeachCare.
The operative language:
Congress tried to pass better health care for children. But he voted no. Lower drug prices for seniors. He said no. Tax cuts for middle-class Georgia families. He said no.
By BEN SMITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, November 09, 2008
DECATUR - More than 540,000 ballots have already been cast in Georgia, including many from the Democratic strongholds of metropolitan Atlanta in what could be an encouraging sign for Barack Obama's presidential bid.
Black voters have made up a disproportionately high percentage of early voters, accounting for 37 percent of Georgia's early voters. Blacks represent 29 percent of the state's 5.6 million registered voters.
By MICHAEL E. KANELL, CHANDLER BROWN
Friday, October 17, 2008
The state's jobless rate rose again in September to reach 6.5 percent - up 44 percent from the same month last year, the state Labor Department announced Thursday.
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