Lewis making a strong point to the audience in his address at a rally held at the Georgia Mountains Center in Gainesville, on September 23, 2008. (Dave Bender)
Democrats called on north Georgians to get out the presidential vote, at an afternoon rally held in Gainesville's Georgia Mountains Center.
Taking the stage, Fifth District Congressman John Lewis exhorted nearly 300 of the party faithful:
“As Democrats in this part of the State of Georgia, with other Democrats all across this state, we must get out and vote like we never, ever voted before – and elect Democrats. We can do it!”Lewis, U.S. Senate candidate Jim Martin, and several local Congressional candidates also addressed the crowd.
Martin said one of the rally's aims was to get the new candidates out in front of the public, and build a voter base in the region:
"Stand up for the people -- this is what this rally's has been about: Democrats from this part of the state and other people come to hear what Democratic candidates have to offer."Abbot Hayes, an organizer at the event, says he had expected a turnout of about 1,000 people, although far fewer filled the floor seats when the event commenced after two p.m.
Sign on the stage. (Dave Bender)
All of the party officials say that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama can still win Georgia, despite recently moving numerous party activists to other hotly-contested states.
Georgia Republicans held a similar rally last weekend.
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