I wrote my friend Don today to praise him for a well-run, clean campaign and to let him know that I'm still fired up about continuing to bring the Democratic party in our county (Gwinnett Co., northeastern suburbs of Atlanta) out of the shadows and into the light of day.
Don suffered a big defeat (30% to 70%) against the incumbent Republican for the state house seat in our district. However, Don's reply contained some good news and numbers:
Election night did not go very well but there was some good news in the numbers.
There are 13 precincts in house district 97 two of which voted for Kerry and one basically tied. That's a first for Duluth. Several of the precints I targeted had an increase of Democrats voting of 11%, 8%, and 7% which is opposite of what happened in many areas, [where] there was a loss of Democratic voters. This was the first time in many years a Democrat has walked door to door trying to get Democrats active and organized.
...
Mr. Coleman [the Repub. incumbent. -BiA] had to spend 17K that I am aware of and had to work for the first time. [He has run unopposed in every election for the past 12 years. -BiA] I plan on continiung and make him work to keep his position and help elect a Democratic Governor in 2006.
I have already pledged to continue helping Don and the rest of the Dems in my county, and hope to expand to doing things on a statewide level. I'll be documenting these things on a new blog, Angry Liberal (www.angryliberal.us - not open yet, but will be by tomorrow afternoon).
I'd like to get other Georgia Kossacks involved as well. If you'd like to write for Angry Liberal, and you have some blogging experience here or elsewhere, let me know. You can email me at bob [at] angryliberal.us.
Confidential to Jeff Boatright: drop me an email, please. I have a question for you re: redclaydemocrats