Does Goddard's Loss Doom Everhart?

Coming off a big Senate win that helped boost morale nationally for the GOP, there is a political fight brewing over who gets to lead the state Republican party.

Sue Everhart is the current party chair, and will run for another term. Yet, as Everhart acknowledges, some influential voices in the party say it’s time for someone else to serve.

"I don't know what they are basing it on, other than the fact we were not able to seal the deal with Rick Goddard. We put a lot of money and support into that campaign and we had a great a candidate," Everhart said.

Republican Rick Goddard lost in his bid to unseat Democratic Congressman Jim Marshall in the conservative eighth district.

Several North Georgia GOP county chairs contacted by GPB praised Everhart for increasing turn out the vote efforts in rural areas.

These county leaders also told GPB they've been contacted by two high profile GOP party members who are considering running for the leadership position. They didn't disclose who contacted them or other details of their conversation.

Marshall wins 8th District

Jim Marshall is heading back to Congress to represent Middle Georgia. The Macon Democrat won a resounding victory over his Republican opponent.
Supporter's at Marshall's victory celebration were able to go home much earlier this time. Back in 2006 Marshall barely won against challenger, Mac Collins. The race was too close to call on the night of the election. But, last night Republican Rick Goddard called him to concede shortly after 10:00pm.
Marshall refers to his race against Collins as "dreadful." The Republican Party pumped in 5-million dollars and began running ads months before the election.

"This time around we didn't have that kind of bombardment, and that alleviated an awful lot of the stress."

Marshall also enjoys wide support from many conservative groups like the NRA. He beat Goddard by 14-percentage points and will be serving his fourth term in office.

Marshall offers support for Obama

Over the last several months of his campaign, 8th District Congressman, Jim Marshall has remained quiet on the Presidential race.
But in a recent debate he had kind words for Presidential candidate, Barack Obama.
Middle Georgia Democratic Congressman Jim Marshall has never publicly endorsed Barack Obama. In fact he did not attend the Democratic convention despite being a super delegate.
In a debate Sunday night against challenger Rick Goddard he stopped short of endorsing Obama, but did have kind words for him.

"I do think he is qualified to be President of the United States, and I think if he is elected he will be a very good President of the United States, and I intend to do everything I possibly can if he is President of the United States to help him be the best possible president."

Marshall went on to say that he felt McCain is qualified as well. The 8th District is considered to be conservative. Last time Marshall won by less than 2-thousand votes. This year he faces stiff opposition from Republican challenger Rick Goddard.

8th District poll shows close race

Just one week before the election a new poll finds candidates in the 8th District locked in a very tight race. The Survey USA poll, conducted for Washington, D.C. newspaper, Roll Call, finds Congressman Jim Marshall leading Republican challenger, Rick Goddard by just four percentage points. The 8th District is considered to be conservative. In the same poll John McCain leads Barack Obama by 16 points. The poll looked at 700 registered voters. Most of them already cast their ballots. African-American voters could be crucial for a Marshall victory. The three term congressman leads strongly among them, and the 8th District is one-third African-American. In 2006 Marshall beat his Republican challenger by less than 2-thousand votes.

Survey USA poll:
http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=09f8180d-a6c3-4047-8bfe-c8e8e2d149bf

Newt Gingrich stumps for Rick Goddard in Macon

Former Georgia Congressman and House Speaker, Newt Gingrich traveled to Macon to show his support for Republican Congressional candidate, Rick Goddard.
Gingrich told a room filled with Goddard supporters the Democrats are likely to gain seats in the House and Senate during the upcoming election. He says Senator John McCain is in a very deep hole against Senator Barack Obama and that people are unhappy with President George Bush.
Goddard is running in the 8th Congressional District against Congressman Jim Marshall, a Democrat from Macon who is serving his third term in office.

Lively candidates forum in Perry

The first face-off of the candidates in the U.S. Senate race came last night in front of a boisterous crowd at the Georgia Fairgrounds in Perry Thursday night. Sharp words were traded between Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss and the challengers--Democrat Jim Martin and Libertarian Allen Buckley. The financial crisis was the overriding topic. Chambliss calling the crisis the "9/11 of our domestic economy". He defended his vote for the 700-billion dollar federal bailout, and said his opponents were sticking their heads in the sand over the issue. Martin and Buckley fired back that Chambliss was too aligned with President Bush policies, and said there are not good enough safeguards in the bailout for homeowners.

Last night’s debates also featured the 8th Congressional district race combatants--Representative Jim Marshall and Republican challenger Rick Goddard.

Marshall voter reaction

On Monday Congress failed to pass a 700-billion dollar rescue plan for Wall Street. Just two Georgia Congressman, both Democrats, voted in favor of the measure. One is in the midst of a reelection campaign.

Macon Congressman, Jim Marshall told a group of Georgia Democrats he is willing to give up his seat over the plan designed to shore up the nation's ailing mortgage industry. Marshall says he hopes the predicted, resulting damage can be avoided and that lawmakers can get back together and salvage the proposal.

Dr. Lori Johnson is a political science professor at Mercer University in Macon. She says constituents in Marshall's 8th District could react badly to his vote.

"It's a fine line he walks between the Democrats and the Republicans and I think this is an example where when it comes to conservative Republican voters in Middle Georgia, they're not going to be pleased by this vote."

Marshall faces a tight election against Republican Rick Goddard for his seat. In 2006 Marshall won with just fifty-one percent of the vote.

Bush visit aids 8th district candidate

President Bush left Georgia Tuesday afternoon hoping an infusion of money from a fundraiser he attended will give a boost to Republican Rick Goddard. Former Air Force general Goddard is in the 8th congressional district fight to try to oust Democrat Jim Marshall. The president spoke to a fundraiser crowd of about 200 people within his hour spent at the private Atlanta event.

Bush in Georgia today

President Bush drops-in on Georgia today for his first trip here in nearly two years. Bush will be in Atlanta this afternoon for a fundraising event to support 8th congressional district candidate Rick Goddard, a former Air Force general. Goddard is in the race against conservative Democrat Jim Marshall in the central Georgia district. Marshall holds a nearly 3-to-1 fundraising advantage over Goddard. While he’s here today, the President will also make the presentation of a volunteer service award to Sherri Goggin. She’s a former Mrs. Georgia who has helped families of premature babies.

President Bush to visit Georgia

President George Bush is coming to Georgia tomorrow. He's coming to Atlanta to raise money for congressional hopeful Rick Goddard. Goddard, a Republican, is trying to oust Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall in central Georgia's 8th Congressional District. It's been almost two years since Bush last visited Georgia.

Vice President to visit Middle Georgia

Dick Cheney is expected to land at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon this evening.

From there he will head to Perry to speak at a fund-raiser for Rick Goddard, the Republican candidate in the 8th District congressional race.

Goddard is likely to face off against Democratic Congressman, Jim Marshall, in November.
Marshall, who is serving his third term in office, must first win the July primary against challenger Robert Nowak.

Cheney has no public appearances scheduled during his visit.

Macon's mayor may run for Congress

Macon Mayor, Jack Ellis, leaves office in December and now he's eying a seat in Congress.

Ellis has formed a committee so he can start raising money. He also plans to travel around the district to gauge support and talk with potential voters. He says the 8th District needs a "real" democrat.

He made those comments after Congressman Jim Marshall voted against expanding SCHIP, a government program that provides insurance to the working poor.

Ellis recently stirred controversy when he sent a letter of support to Venezuelan dictator, Hugo Chavez. Earlier in the year he converted to Islam and announced plans to change his name to Hakim Mansour Ellis.

If Ellis does run. it will be Marshall's first challenge by a fellow democrat since taking office. Republican Rick Goddard will be running as well.