Being in Georgia, I have despaired - no bus tours by Kerry for us, no Edwards speaking from the back of a pick-up truck here, no Boss concert in the Phillips Arena. Sad and despised, Dems in Georgia have been tossed into the Repub dustbin of lost causes. It's hard to rally the vote when you feel you are clearly in the minority and besides, Diebold will eat your vote anyway. But then, I came across this press release from the GA Dem Party...
http://www.georgiaparty.com/DPGsite/newsroom/pressRelease.asp?pressID=79
Bush Shows Weakness in Georgia
GOP Firm Releases Misweighted Poll, Accurate Weighting Puts Bush Under 50% in Georgia
(Atlanta) This week, Strategic Vision, a Republican political consulting firm, released a poll showing President Bush leading John Kerry in Georgia 52-43, and claiming that a coming Bush landslide in Georgia could help Republicans in down ballot races. A closer look at the poll conducted July 30 - August 2, however, shows that Strategic Vision underweighted the African-American vote by at least 20%. Strategic Vision admitted that it weighted the expected African-American percentage of the electorate to 18%. According to the Secretary of State's office, however, the African American percentage of the electorate has been closer to 23% in each of the last three general elections (22.9% in 1998, 23.2% in 2000, 22.6% in 2002). [Crawford, "Political notes - Bush maintains Georgia lead," Capitol Impact, 8/4/04; Georgia Secretary of State's office]
As Senator Kerry can expect overwhelming support from African-American voters, a correct weighting of the poll shows a very close Presidential contest in Georgia, with President Bush leading Senator Kerry by only 4 points, approximately 49.5% to 45.5%. Any universally known incumbent whose vote is less than 50% is in serious jeopardy of losing a re-election bid. President Bush's 4% point lead is only slightly outside the poll's margin of error of 3%.
So, hey Edwards! While you're swinging thru Alabama, come give some love to Atlanta. Let me know where and when and I'll be there!