GA-6 Special election discussion thread

[Ronnie]

GOP Super PAC ad ties Ossoff to Kathy Griffin

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/06/01/gop-super-pac-tries-to-tie-georgia-democrat-to-kathy-griffin/?utm_term=.ac48f28197e5

I had a bit of a chuckle at the idea that Michael Moore is the face of "dividing America" in 2017. That's rich.

It's also ironic that the narrator calls liberals the divisive ones when in the next breath, he calls Ossoff "one of them."

[Hindsight was 2020]

GOP Super PAC ad ties Ossoff to Kathy Griffin

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/06/01/gop-super-pac-tries-to-tie-georgia-democrat-to-kathy-griffin/?utm_term=.ac48f28197e5

I had a bit of a chuckle at the idea that Michael Moore is the face of "dividing America" in 2017. That's rich.

It's also ironic that the narrator calls liberals the divisive ones when in the next breath, he calls Ossoff "one of them."

They've been doing that forever " we are about uniting the country but f**k the East and West coasts"

[Brittain33]

By the way, this thread is fast approaching 2,500 posts. Will it be locked at some point, or are we going to try to see this election through on one thread?

I'd lock this thread and open a new one, but what should the new one would be called?

[_]

By the way, this thread is fast approaching 2,500 posts. Will it be locked at some point, or are we going to try to see this election through on one thread?

I'd lock this thread and open a new one, but what should the new one would be called?

GA-6 Special Election General Election discussion thread.

[Virginiá]

By the way, this thread is fast approaching 2,500 posts. Will it be locked at some point, or are we going to try to see this election through on one thread?

Personally I'd use this one through the election. I think the issue Dave specified with large threads is that their continued use can cause MySQL to perform slower when it has to fetch data for the thread in question, but since this is a temporary election thread, it will be gone by June 24-25. After that, it will fade into obscurity and the server will no longer be stressed by its biglyness.

Anyways, it's up to ya'll. But fwiw, had already thought about this and left the thread alone because it seemed better to have one collection of Atlas's thoughts on this election as opposed to splitting it up.

[Brittain33]

By the way, this thread is fast approaching 2,500 posts. Will it be locked at some point, or are we going to try to see this election through on one thread?

Personally I'd use this one through the election. I think the issue Dave specified with large threads is that their continued use can cause MySQL to perform slower when it has to fetch data for the thread in question, but since this is a temporary election thread, it will be gone by June 24-25. After that, it will fade into obscurity and the server will no longer be stressed by its biglyness.

Anyways, it's up to ya'll. But fwiw, had already thought about this and left the thread alone because it seemed better to have one collection of Atlas's thoughts on this election as opposed to splitting it up.

I'm happy to defer to you on this, Virginia.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Unsurprisingly, Ossoff and Handel are on opposite sides regarding the Paris climate agreement withdrawal.

Handel:

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Ossoff:

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[GeorgiaModerate]

Strong numbers from DeKalb in the early voting so far: http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/06/02/democrat-heavy-dekalb-punches-above-weight-in-early-sixth-district-voting/

Total: 33,957
Cobb: 6,709 (20%)
DeKalb: 9,991 (29%)
Fulton: 16,897 (50%)

The distribution of registered voters in the district is approximately:

Cobb: 29%
DeKalb: 23%
Fulton: 48%

And in the April 18 primary, the vote distribution was:

Cobb: 32%
DeKalb: 23%
Fulton: 46%

As a reminder, Cobb is the most Republican of the three, DeKalb the most Democratic.  Obviously, turnout in DeKalb is strong so far (with the important caveat that it's still very early).  Todd Rehm, a Republican consultant in Georgia, characterized the numbers so far as "alarming".

[OneJ]

New WSB poll:

Ossoff 49.1
Handel 47.6

http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/06/01/wsb-poll-ossoff-and-handel-locked-in-a-georgia-6th-nail-biter/

Last poll from them Handel up 3 so maybe there is a bit of momentum. I'd feel more confident if Ossoff was consistently posting above 50% considering which way undecideds always go in Southern states.

Also, there's a huge age gap here:

If I'm Ossoff, I have to like the party splits.  He's getting 14% of R's while only losing 7% of D's, and winning large majorities of Independents and Others.

I have to agree. Although I would definitely be more relaxed that Ossoff was polling above 50%, I'm glad that those party splits are slightly favoring him (even though we know how Independents/undecideds behave throughout the South).

[GeorgiaModerate]

The first Ossoff-Handel debate is Tuesday night from 8pm-9pm EDT, and will be live streamed on WSB's website and Facebook page.  Links are in this article: http://www.wftv.com/news/trending-now/karen-handel-jon-ossoff-to-debate-live-on-wsbtv/528693479

ETA: originally had the wrong date.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The first Ossoff-Handel debate is Tuesday night from 8pm-9pm EDT, and will be live streamed on WSB's website and Facebook page.  Links are in this article: http://www.wftv.com/news/trending-now/karen-handel-jon-ossoff-to-debate-live-on-wsbtv/528693479

ETA: originally had the wrong date.

Wow, Tuesday night is really full now. New Jersey Gubernatorial Primary, this debate, CA-34 Runoff.

[GeorgiaModerate]

Strong numbers from DeKalb in the early voting so far: http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/06/02/democrat-heavy-dekalb-punches-above-weight-in-early-sixth-district-voting/

Total: 33,957
Cobb: 6,709 (20%)
DeKalb: 9,991 (29%)
Fulton: 16,897 (50%)

The distribution of registered voters in the district is approximately:

Cobb: 29%
DeKalb: 23%
Fulton: 48%

And in the April 18 primary, the vote distribution was:

Cobb: 32%
DeKalb: 23%
Fulton: 46%

As a reminder, Cobb is the most Republican of the three, DeKalb the most Democratic.  Obviously, turnout in DeKalb is strong so far (with the important caveat that it's still very early).  Todd Rehm, a Republican consultant in Georgia, characterized the numbers so far as "alarming".

Early vote (mail and in-person) updated through Friday, June 2:

Cobb: 7997 (19.2%)
DeKalb: 11929 (28.7%)
Fulton: 21642 (52.1%)
Total: 41568

[Brittain33]

Strong numbers from DeKalb in the early voting so far: http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/06/02/democrat-heavy-dekalb-punches-above-weight-in-early-sixth-district-voting/

Total: 33,957
Cobb: 6,709 (20%)
DeKalb: 9,991 (29%)
Fulton: 16,897 (50%)

The distribution of registered voters in the district is approximately:

Cobb: 29%
DeKalb: 23%
Fulton: 48%

And in the April 18 primary, the vote distribution was:

Cobb: 32%
DeKalb: 23%
Fulton: 46%

As a reminder, Cobb is the most Republican of the three, DeKalb the most Democratic.  Obviously, turnout in DeKalb is strong so far (with the important caveat that it's still very early).  Todd Rehm, a Republican consultant in Georgia, characterized the numbers so far as "alarming".

Early vote (mail and in-person) updated through Friday, June 2:

Cobb: 7997 (19.2%)
DeKalb: 11929 (28.7%)
Fulton: 21642 (52.1%)
Total: 41568

This is the reverse of what we saw in Montana where Trump counties were ahead in % of ballots returned compared to 2016.

[The Other Castro]

This is some painful stuff from Handel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgcDMYC27JM

[Virginiá]

Why do Republicans keep talking about Democrats stealing seats? It's an election, where candidates try to appeal to voters and get elected. Is it any wonder why there is so little faith in government when we have one party whose primary message is denigrating government at any turn, on top of sowing doubt and stoking fear about our elections?

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Why do Republicans keep talking about Democrats stealing seats? It's an election, where candidates try to appeal to voters and get elected. Is it any wonder why there is so little faith in government when we have one party whose primary message is denigrating government at any turn, on top of sowing doubt and stoking fear about our elections?

In fairness, you'll often hear the same sort of talk if a white candidate ever has a shot at winning a Democratic primary in a minority-majority district.  And of course, we also heard it when Espailatt was running against Rengel 2012 and 2014. 

[OneJ]

This is some painful stuff from Handel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgcDMYC27JM

This is so cringeworthy to watch. No wonder why some people look at Handel the way they do now.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

This is some painful stuff from Handel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgcDMYC27JM

[Virginiá]

In fairness, you'll often hear the same sort of talk if a white candidate ever has a shot at winning a Democratic primary in a minority-majority district.  And of course, we also heard it when Espailatt was running against Rengel 2012 and 2014. 

That is even worse

I just don't get why people need to start saying that stuff. They know damn well it isn't true, and to keep doing this not reduces trust in our elections, which for all their shortcomings, are still not a sham like in so many other countries. People should be better than this. It's not a high bar to clear ffs.

[Brittain33]

Ossoff has decided to skip a national CNN debate on June 13.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/democrat-jon-ossoff-to-skip-cnn-debate/article/2624921

What do we think is going on here?

[_]

Ossoff has decided to skip a national CNN debate on June 13.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/democrat-jon-ossoff-to-skip-cnn-debate/article/2624921

What do we think is going on here?

Ossoff is ignoring the fake news /s

I assume he's trying to stay under the radar and avoid screwing up before the election.  Weird though because he should be trying to get his name out as much as possible.

[hueylong]

Why participate in a nationally televised debate when the only people you need to convince are concentrated in a very specific area? Why waste time preparing for and going to said debate when you can have one more day of running what is widely reported to be a highly effective ground effort to mobilize voters? Why rule that a CNN debate which a pretty limited amount of people will watch anyways is more important than getting in ~20k unreturned absentee ballots and energizing the thousands of additional people who were just recently allowed to register and who certainly lean Dem?

[Crumpets]

This is some painful stuff from Handel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgcDMYC27JM

So, seeing as Ossoff is presumably "Johnny" in this metaphor, Handel must be the Devil?

[DrScholl]

Handel seems to be calling herself Johnny, while considering Ossoff to be the golden fiddle. It's supposed to be clever, but it's really muddled and confusing.

[hueylong]

It's oddly endearing to watch Republicans try to be as witty and rhetorically sharp as Reagan and fail miserably.