As difficult as it’s been to deal with the multiple Dem Senate retirements in the South, one by one, the party has picked up the slack with some strong candidates. What once looked like a disaster (losing five Dems seats to the GOP and destroying any chance of us taking back the Senate majority) now looks a lot more encouraging.
And then there’s Georgia.
Zell Miller is retiring and the conventional wisdom has been this would be an easy Republican pick-up. In the 1990s, Georgia abandoned what was left of its Dem inclinations and is now a full-blown Red state. Strong GOP candidates — including Reps. Johnny Isakson and Mac Collins — stepped up to fill the void.
The Dems’ prospects, which looked slim to begin with, were made considerably worse when it appeared no one actually wanted to run for the seat. A slew of potential candidates were approached, and all of them declined. Former U.N Ambassador Andrew Young, Michelle Nunn, former Secretary of State Lewis Massey, current Secretary of State Cathy Cox, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine all gave it a good look, but ultimately said thanks, but no thanks.
I’m pleased to report, however, that the Dems finally have a serious, high-profile candidate. Rep. Denise Majette announced yesterday that she will throw her hat into the ring and run for the Senate.
Does Majette have much of a chance? Maybe, but it’s a long-shot.
Majette’s rise to prominence has been remarkably quick. A graduate from Yale and Duke University law school, she came to Georgia in 1983. A decade later, after serving as a special assistant attorney general, Majette was appointed to be a state court judge. She resigned in 2002 to run successfully for Congress in one of the most Democratic congressional districts in the South.
And now, after just one term in the House, she’s running for the Senate.
Her message is already one of inclusiveness in one of the South’s more diverse states.
“We currently have two senators who represent one part of Georgia,” Majette told supporters gathered in front of the state Capitol in Atlanta, referring to Republican Saxby Chambliss and Miller, who has endorsed President Bush and lambasted Democrats for being out of sync with Southern voters.
“But what about the other parts? Our state is more diverse than ever. We are African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian. We are gay and straight, male and female, able-bodied and disabled, rich and poor, conservative and liberal — and we need someone to represent us. We need someone to bridge the gap.”
That’s a strong message, but Majette will have to overcome a very late start. Running statewide in Georgia is a costly endeavor and the GOP candidates have already raised considerable sums, while Majette is starting way behind.
Majette may benefit, however, from a contested three-way Republican primary. Isakson is leading in most polls, but Collins and businessman Herman Cain are campaigning hard in advance of the state’s July primary. Majette will have to hope the competition between the three grows increasingly bitter and leaves the ultimate nominee with fewer resources for November.
As for Majette’s House seat, it’s likely to stay in Dem hands — Gore beat Bush in Georgia’s 4th by an amazing 40 points — but the question is now which Democrat will take Majette’s place.
The odds-on favorite has to be former Rep. Cynthia McKinney, who lost to Majette in the 2002 Dem primary. McKinney planned to run for her seat anyway, but with Majette giving it up for a Senate campaign, McKinney’s path will probably be easier.
That’s a mixed blessing, to be sure. Sure, it’s great that the Dems won’t have to worry about losing this seat to the GOP, but McKinney’s penchant for saying stupid things — and her family’s record of disgusting anti-Semitism — does the party few favors.
Nevertheless, Majette’s Senate campaign should be worth watching. At a minimum, I’m glad we finally have a candidate.