New law allows casting ballots Monday

Changes in state law allow voters to begin casting ballots Monday. That gives registered voters more than six weeks to use touch-screen machines at their local election offices or use mail-in absentee ballots instead of waiting until a week before the Nov. 4 presidential election.

Voters do not have to give a reason for voting early or casting an absentee ballot. Election officials say they expect 80 percent of voters to vote in November and are asking people to vote early to cut down on Election Day lines.

Although high turnout may present some challenges, secretary of state spokesman Matt Carrothers says the state is "absolutely" prepared for Election day and has recruited 15,000 poll workers.

(The Associated Press)

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Obama evokes MLK , seeks 'mandate for change' in Georgia

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Monday he doesn't just want to win the White House -- he wants a mandate. And that includes competing in Georgia, a state that hasn't awarded its delegates to a Democrat in 16 years.

"I intend to win right here in the great state of Georgia," Obama told some 300 donors.

They had paid a minimum of $2,300 apiece and crowded into the upscale Atlanta restaurant 103 West to hear him speak. It was the first of two Atlanta fundraisers the Illinois senator headlined Monday night to stock his campaign warchest for the coming general election battle with Republican John McCain.

Obama evoked the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in his hometown, warning Democrats not to forget "the fierce urgency of now."

"We want a mandate for change and we're not just going to run in the same old states and have just everything hinge on Florida," Obama said.

"We're going to try and transform this political map."

He will host a town hall meeting today on the economy in the GOP stronghold of Cobb County.

Georgia Republicans went on the attack against Obama before he'd even arrived in the state. In a conference call with reporters, Georgia's two U.S. senators -- both Republicans -- blasted the Illinois senator on taxes, gas prices and the war in Iraq.

Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson said Georgians need to know about Obama's voting record, which they allege is out of step with many of the state's conservative voters. The Georgia Republican Party also issued a blistering press release taking aim at Obama's decision to forgo public financing for his campaign, among other things.

There's been talk that Georgia could be up for grabs in the November general election. And in South Carolina, two of Obama's top supporters said Monday he would put paid staff on the ground there, in another break with the recent Democratic strategy of bypassing a GOP-dominated state in the general election.

Isakson predicted Monday that Republican candidate John McCain would carry Georgia. He said the Obama camp is touching down in the state in what will be a futile attempt to engineer a win in Dixie.

"I think they would like nothing better than to crack a Southern state," Isakson said.

Chambliss, who's running for re-election this year, praised Obama for bringing new voters into the process.

"I have to commend him for that," Chambliss said. "But we want to make sure that people understand really how this guy has voted and what he stands for."

A spokesman for the Georgia Democratic Party said it was telling that Republicans launched such a coordinated offensive against Obama.

"Don't let our senators fool you -- Georgia is not as red as they would have you believe," Martin Matheny said.

Obama on Monday also received a plug from Georgia Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Vernon Jones on Monday who praised him for battling in the state unlike some previous Democratic presidential candidates "who wrote the South off."

The last Democrat to carry Georgia in a presidential contest was Bill Clinton in 1992.

Jones' comments came a few days after a mailer from his campaign made waves with the Obama camp. The flier featured a composite picture of Jones and Obama under Obama's signature slogan: "Yes We Can!

The Obama campaign issued a statement which said "despite what this mailer inaccurately suggests, Sen. Obama will not endorse a candidate in the U.S. Senate primary in Georgia." Jones brushed aside such criticism on Monday and said the flier merely shows that he's supporting Obama.

Jones volunteered that he can help Obama.

"For Sen. Obama to win Georgia he's going to need conservative Democrats like myself, obviously that's the great need," Jones said.

Obama: Jones mailer not an endorsement

Barack Obama's presidential campaign distanced itself Thursday from a mailer by Georgia Democratic Senate hopeful Vernon Jones that shows them together under Obama's signature slogan: "Yes we can."

Jones defended the mailer, saying it shows he supports the Illinois senator, not the other way around.

"It shows that I am the best person to work with Barack Obama to turn this country around,"Jones told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Thursday.

Two of his four Democratic opponents pounced, saying the mailer suggests Jones — who twice voted for Republican George W. Bush — has Obama's backing.

"This last-ditch attempt to drape himself in the Barack Obama aura is not going to work," said challenger Dale Cardwell.

"A gross abuse and misuse of Barack Obama's wonderful success in Georgia," added candidate Rand Knight.

The five are facing off in a July 15 primary for the right to take on Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss in November.

Obama's campaign denied involvement with the flier Jones said was mailed statewide.

"The Obama campaign was not involved with the use of Sen. Obama's picture in this mailer," spokeswoman Amy Brundage said. "And despite what this mailer inaccurately suggests, Sen. Obama will not endorse a candidate in the U.S. Senate primary in Georgia."

The flier blends photos of Obama and Jones to make it appear they were at the same event, when they were not. It lists a variety of issues, from job creation to home foreclosure, on which the two share an agenda. "Like Barack Obama Vernon Jones Wants to ..." the list begins.

Jones said his opponents are attacking him because they are worried about his strength in the July 15 primary. He said they have been proclaiming their support for Obama for weeks.

Obama won Georgia handily in the state's Feb. 5 presidential contest, drawing 66 percent of the vote against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, including strong support from the state's large black population. Jones, the only black Senate candidate in Georgia, also is courting black voters.

Click here for more GPB News local coverage of the presidential election race.

Presidential race in Georgia tight

A new poll shows Republican presidential candidate John McCain with only a 44 to 43 percent lead over presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama here in Georgia. Libertarian candidate Bob Barr draws 6 percent. Those numbers come from Atlanta-based Insider Advantage. Obama’s campaign announced it will start running a new 60-second TV ad in Georgia and 17 other states today.

Obama supporting Barrow in state race

Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama is throwing his support behind Georgia congressman John Barrow in his race against a state lawmaker.

Experts say Obama’s support could prove crucial for Barrow, a white incumbent from Savannah, who is running against black legislator, state Sen. Regina Thomas.

Black voters are a solid majority in the 12th Congressional District, which includes large portions of Savannah and Augusta.

Obama will soon begin airing his first TV ad in the state since clinching his party’s nomination.

The spot, which will also run 17 other states is a biographical sketch called, “Country I Love.”

Georgia has voted heavily Republican in recent years. The GOP believes the state will give its 15 electoral votes to John McCain, the GOP nominee in waiting, in November.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the July 15th state race, and here for the presidential elections: http://gpbelectionnews.blogspot.com/

Nunn, former SecDef in Atlanta

Former Georgia Democratic Senator Sam Nunn and former Defense Secretary William Cohen are to appear in Atlanta on Tuesday, as part of a series of political dialogues they have held around the country.

Nunn's name is being bandied about as a possible running mate for presidential hopeful, Illinois Democratic Senator Barak Obama, according to some reports.

Commentators note that Nunn's national security experience, and relatively conservative reputation could be useful to Obama in impressing the state's Republican base.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the presidential race.

(With The Associated Press)

Barr Running for President

Former GOP Congressman Bob Barr has announced he will run for President as a Libertarian. This comes despite protests from some Republicans that he could hurt John McCain’s chances. Barr left the Republican Party in 2006 citing the party’s stance on civil liberties. Four years earlier, he lost a re-election bid to keep his Georgia House seat.

Now, Barr says there needs to be an alternative to McCain and Democratic front runner Barrack Obama.

“It’s not a choice if the only two candidates presented to the American People are Senator McCain and Senator Obama… Two establishment candidates that are very much Washington creatures.”

Barr oversaw the House impeachment case against former President Bill Clinton. He has the support of about three percent of Americans according to a recent Zogby poll. If Barr does enter the race today, he will have to be nominated at the Libertarian convention, later this month.

Bob Barr to run for president

Former GOP Congressman Bob Barr is expected to announce today he will run for President as a Libertarian. This comes despite protests from some Republicans that he will hurt Presumptive GOP front runner John McCain’s chances.

Barr left the Republican Party in 2006 citing the party’s stance on civil liberties. Four years earlier, he lost a re-election bid to keep his Georgia House seat. Now, Barr says there needs to be an alternative to McCain and Democratic front runner Barrack Obama.

"It’s not a choice if the only two candidates presented to the American People are Senator McCain and Senator Obama," says Barr. "Two establishment candidates that are very much Washington creatures."

Barr oversaw the House impeachment case against former President Bill Clinton. He has the support of about five percent of Americans according to a recent Zogby poll. If Barr does enter the race today, he will have to be nominated at the Libertarian convention, later this month.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Endorses Obama

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia's largest newspaper, is endorsing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic race for the White House.

The newspaper said in an editorial published on its Web site Saturday and to be printed Sunday that it believes Obama has demonstrated an appeal across many of the lines that have divided America.

"That is a critically important attribute, because the scale of changes that must be made to correct America's course cannot be accomplished with majorities of 50 percent plus one," the newspaper said.

Of Obama's chief rival in the Democratic race, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the newspaper said she has too often chosen to play within the Washington system rather than dare to challenge its assumptions.

"Different moments in history require different types of leaders, and part of the art of picking a president is matching the person to the challenge and to the time," the newspaper said. "So while both Clinton and Obama would make very good presidents, Obama is the person; this is his time."

The newspaper plans to endorse a candidate in the Republican presidential race next Sunday.

Georgia's presidential primary is Feb. 5.

Click here to read more GPB News coverage of the presidential primaries.

(The Associated Press)

Presidential primary ballot confirmed by Secretary of State

The ballot is now official for Georgia’s Presidential primary. Secretary of State Karen Handel says there are eight Democrats and nine Republicans in the running. Georgia will hold its Presidential Primary on February 5th, 2008. Voters who would like to participate in the primary must register to vote by January 7, 2008. If you would like to register to vote, please visit http://www.sos.georgia.gov/ .

In accordance with the list provided by the Democratic Party of Georgia, the following candidates will be listed on the Republican ballot in alphabetical order: Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, and Fred Thompson.

In accordance with the list provided by the Republican Party of Georgia, the following candidates will be listed on the Republican ballot in alphabetical order: Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis J. Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson.

Gingrich launches initiative amid rumors

Georgia Republican and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich kicked-off his new initiative last night in Cobb County. Called "American Solutions for Winning the Future", it plans to focus on problems such as healthcare, immigration and national security in workshops across the nation this weekend.

This however, comes as rumors swirl as to a possible presidential run by Gingrich. Some critics have suggested that his advocacy group is an indirect political campaign. Matt Towery heads the political website 'Insider Advantage'. He's a former Gingrich political aide.

"I think if he gets into the race he's going to be criticized for using this as a stepping stone, and it's something he's going to have to deal with. I don't think it would be fatal to him. I didn't think it was the smartest thing in the world, but yet at the same time it has created a lot of buzz".

Gingrich spoke to GPB last night about the charge put forth by critics.

"Nothing that we have done in American Solutions relates to campaigning. Any poll we give out we give out to both the Democrat and Republican party...all of our programs have been open to both the Democrat and Republican party...we've invited both Democrats and Republicans to participate. We've really tried to make this very open and available to anybody".

Gingrich has mentioned a number of 30-million dollars in pledges needed to fuel a jump into the presidential fray, and summed up his chances of getting into the race.

"I think the odds are probably 20-percent that we'll get pledges of 30-million dollars, and 80-percent that we won't. I'm pretty comfortable with that...I would have told you a month ago I thought it was 5-percent we would get it and 95-percent we wouldn't. So it has actually in my mind moved a fair distance in the last six weeks".

Gingrich said this is not about any ambition on his part, but about a citizen movement for change, and he’d be willing to be their candidate with enough support.

Presidential candidate Edwards visits Atlanta

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards held fundraiser in Atlanta last night.

Edwards returned to health care as a major theme, saying his health care plan would offer full coverage for mental health and guarantee insurance coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions.

The plan would be funded by rolling back recent tax cuts on people making more than $200,000 a year and working to drive down insurance and drug company prices.