In the last week, a sudden surge of activity has taken place in the
Georgia Senate race
.Two Democrats with decent resumes have entered the race, and a heavyweight Democrat is considering a candidacy. The two new Democrats in the race are Gary Leshaw, a DeKalb County Judge, and State Senator Nadine Thomas, a health care company CEO. The Democrat who could keep this seat in our hands is Gordon Giffin, ex-Ambassador to Canada under President Clinton and a brilliant fundraiser for Georgia Democrats. Here's a brief biography of each new Senate hopeful, and what their chances are:
Gary Leshaw
Gary Leshaw has been a lawyer at DeKalb Volunteer Lawyers Foundation since 1982. He has served as a DeKalb County Magistrate since 1993 as well. He practices law in the Civil Rights, Consumer Law, Class Action and Civil Law regions. His website is http://www.leshawforsenate.com
Chances of winning: Should the Democrats fail to get a strong candidate in the race, Leshaw will likely have to fight for the nomination with State Senators Mary Squires and Nadine Thomas. Should he win the nomination, he will likely have little chance of victory, unless the GOP nominee is incredibly bloodied in the primary. I give
him a 5% chance of victory in 2004, if that much.
Nadine Thomas
Nadine Thomas of DeKalb County was elected in 1992 from metro Atlanta's newly-created 10th District to serve as the first African-American woman in the Georgia State Senate.
Thomas, a Democrat now in her fifth term, chairs the State and Local Governmental Operations committee and is vice-chair of both the Health and Human Services committee and the Interstate Cooperation committee. She also serves as secretary of the influential Rules committee and serves on the prestigious Appropriations committee and chairs the Appropriations sub-committee on Human Development. She serves on the Reapportionment committee.
Born in Ft. Myers, Florida, Thomas received her education from Edison Community College, Georgia State University, and Clayton College & State University.
She is a registered nurse and is currently Director of Community Outreach for the Grady Health System in Atlanta. She is a member of both the Georgia Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association.
She represents the 10th Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb County.
Chances of Winning: Thomas has vowed to fight as hard as she can to keep the seat in Democratic hands. Her main difficulty is her race. Can she convince the more conservative Georgia Democrats to support her? I don't think it's likely. However, she does have a decent shot at winning the primary, and, if the GOP nominates a weakened candidate, she might have a thin chance. I give her a 10% chance of victory. She will need to pile up huge margins in Atlanta and its surburbs to have a chance.
Gordon Giffin
Former US Ambassador to Canada Gordon Giffin is considering a bid for the US Senate. He will likely make up his mind soon. Giffin, who served as legal counsel to Senator Sam Nunn in the 1970's, went on to a long, successful legal career. In 1997, President Clinton nominated him as Ambassador to Canada, and he was confirmed by the Senate. He served as Ambassador until 2001, when he was recalled. With strong fundraising connections (although not rich himself)and a charismatic personality, Giffin would be our best shot to keep the seat in Democratic hands.
Chances of Victory: Should Giffin run, the Democratic primary field will be cleared for him, as Leshaw and Thomas have indicated that they will defer to him. Although his name recognition is low, considering he has never held elective office in Georgia, he definately has the fundraising resources and the intelligence to make this race competitive. His chances of victory depend on the GOP primary. If it's Isakson, or a weakened Collins, then Giffin has a 50/50 shot. If it's Collins, then Giffin has about a 40% chance of victory.
If the Democrats can get Giffin in the race, we will have a shot at sticking it to Zell Miller and to the GOP, by denying them a seat they already claim is theirs. Mark my words, should he run, we will have a good race in the Peach State in 2004.
Other notes...Jared Polis is considering a Congressional run in CO-7 against Bob Beauprez. Polis, an internet millionaire and a member of the Colorado State School Board, would be able to spend Beauprez into retirement... Gary Hart will be deciding by the end of this week whether to run for the US Senate in 2004 against Ben Nighthorse Campbell...In Ohio, former Governor John Gilligan has endorsed Eric Fingerhut in his bid to unseat Senator George Voinovich. Finally, Westport Selectwoman Diane Farrell will run against Congressman Chris Shays in 2004.