The media and the Democratic Party have already decided that Hillary is the nominee for 2016 - no primaries, no convention, no argument. Now another pre-ordination is happening in Georgia, one that could end the party's shot at the U.S. Senate seat.
Whoever is in charge of being a Democrat down here has picked Michele Nunn, who damn few Georgians had ever heard of before last fall, as the anointed candidate for the seat being vacated by Saxby Chambliss. With a full clown car of right wing crazies vying for the Republican nomination, Democrats do have a shot at winning and most of us who will be certain to vote in November would like to think that our voices will matter before the Democratic primary in July.
Instead other hopefuls were told that a primary would be divisive and the media has fallen in line, referring to Nunn as the potential or probable Democratic nominee, or using no modifier at all. They certainly never mention any other candidates in the race.
This is made worse because many in the grassroots view Nunn as another Republican. She has been slavish in her praise of the Bush family, equivocal on important issues like extended unemployment, the ACA, and women's rights. Her campaigning has principally been in front of big-money donors, and she has ducked questions from party activists and at least one well publicized debate.
Her Democratic opponent (yes there really is one, maybe more than one - who would know?) is politically tested physician Branko Radulovacki (Dr. Rad) pictured above. He is campaigning in every part of the state, speaking to small crowds and gaining a lot of support from the grassroot. But he can't catch a break from the party or the press. No money from the DSCC, no coverage on MSNBC.
The party doesn't seem to recognize that mid-term elections are base elections. Republicans in the south won't vote for a Dem, no matter how much she looks and talks like them. Base turnout is key and if the base isn't inspired it won't vote. A candidate who thinks the possibility of a war on women is a "nuanced" question does not inspire the base.
The coronation is hurting Nunn as well. With no visible contest on the left, the press is focusing only on the Republican race, leading to the impression it is the only game that counts. This will be hard to overcome in the fall campaign.