Georgia gubernatorial and Senate races in final stretch

Today marks the beginning of early voting in Georgia, and both the gubeatorial and the U.S. Senate races seem to be in a tie, according to recent polling. Entering these final three weeks, the candidates’ appearances, fundraising and endorsements could play a deciding role in the outcome of the Nov. 4^th elections.

Today, we found out that the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Michelle Nunn raised over $4 million for her campaign in the last three months, her highest number to date.  Fundraising reports for the third quarter (July 1through Sept. 30) are due this coming Wednesday, and Nunn’s opponent Republican David Perdue is also expected to announce an impressive number.

Nunn has raised over $13 million since she started campaigning, which makes her one of the most effective fundraisers among all Democratic candidates in the 2014 election cycle. She gave the following statement about her last quarter success:

”I’m proud to stand with the ten of thousands of Georgians who have volunteered their time, organized friends and neighbors to join together in house parties, and invested their own resources into building this campaign. Together, we are doing something different here in Georgia. We have built a truly people-powered, grassroots effort that haesses the power and best ideas of our citizens.  Georgians tell me everyday they are tired of what’s going on in Washington and our grassroots powered campaign is going to send DC a message on Election Day.

Nunn’s opponent Perdue woke up to some good press today from the Augusta Chronicle, which endorsed him for the U.S. Senate race. The publication has a conservative bend, so the endorsement is not surprising, but the masterfully-worded article could still sway some undecided voters.

From the Augusta Chronicle editorial staff:

”Voters base decisions on many factors. Some cast ballots solely for the best political party. Others vote on the issues. Some like the candidate’s experience. In the race to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Georgians have a unique opportunity to make the right decision on all counts: David Perdue.

The article goes on to accuse Nunn of mud throwing, and links her to President Barack Obama and the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.  But most importantly for Perdue, the op-ed lays out very nicely where the Republican stands on all the hot-button issues, in a short and precise way. Click here to read it.

In the gubeatorial race, Democrats tried to ridicule Georgia Goveor Nathan Deal this weekend, after the Republican said during a meeting with the Marietta Daily Joual editorial board that ”water kills the Ebola virus.  The ridicule didn’t get very far, because apparently the Ebola virus can only survive in water for a few minutes. As such, hand-washing with soap is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the ”ways to prevent infection and transmission of the virus.

Deal’s opponent, Democrat Jason Carter campaigned on Sunday for the first time with his 90 years-old grandfather Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. president and Georgia goveor. The Carters and U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga) visited the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Albany, and spoke to the mostly African-American congregation. The elder Carter underscored his grandson’s work against the voter ID laws, both in the court of law and as a state congressman, which Carter said limit voter access.

"[Jason Carter]’s led the charge," said the former president.  "Everyone here and everyone you can contact should join with Jason when the time comes this year to make Martin Luther King's dream come true."

Democrats desperatly need black voters to participate in the 2014 elections. Republicans only need six seats to win control of the U.S. Senate, to join with their already solid control of the U.S. House of Representatives.