How (NOT) to Woo a Cox Supporter

In order to win the general election, Mark Taylor needs most of the 211, 978 people who voted for Cathy Cox to vote for him. In response to all those who've asked, yes, I'm "on board." Whatever that means. Yes, we need to be together as we move forward, and as Tom Bourdeaux said, Cathy was my first choice, but Sonny is my last choice, as in "last person on earth" to be our Governor. That said, those who have been Taylor supporters all along, should consider that when reaching out to the rest of us, some approaches are more effective than others, and some methods just might drive some to do the unthinkable: vote for Perdue. Consider this:

1) Mark Taylor got it right. Follow his example. On Saturday, Taylor shook my hand and said, "I would appreciate your support going forward." I said, "Thank you." Odd reply? After two weeks of Taylor supporters doing some of the things below, I was grateful that the candidate had the good sense to simply say the right thing. Take a page from that book.

2) The "Bash Cathy" approach will not win friends. Don't call to ask for support for Taylor and take the opportunity to criticize Cathy. It will be a short conversation.

3) Don't be arrogant. It's a turn off. A "bend over and take your licks" attitude may make you feel powerful, but will it get Taylor elected? I don't think so.

4) Don't ask lifelong Democrats if they are "on board." Do you really think I would vote for Perdue? Please.

5) Don't be manipulative. For example, don't tell us that Taylor can win the general, and if he fails to win, the loss will be the fault of those who failed to "get on board", or Cathy's fault because she chose to run at all. Give me a break. Tough primarys have produced many a Georgia Governor.

6) Don't blame Cathy for Sonny's tactics. Don't call and tell me that Cathy cooperated with Sonny and endorsed him sending out the letter to her supporters. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Cathy's been on a much needed vacation, and her donor list is available on the State Ethics Commission's website. Even Sonny's smart enough to figure that out. The tactic is classic Republican politics. In fact, Calder Clay sent a similar letter to Chuck Byrd supporters when Jim Marshall won that primary. Didn't work then, won't work now.

7) Ditch the full court press. Don't call our friends and tell them what we should do, or that you are going to find out "what kind of Democrat" we are. This is both offensive and manipulative, and while it doesn't make me want to vote for Sonny, it doesn't make me want to roll my sleeves up either.

Someone on this blog opined that the Lt. Governor doesn't need to do anything to reach out to Cox supporters; he won the primary and that's all he needs to do. I don't agree. Cox voters are the easiest pond for Taylor to fish. He needs those votes, and it would be a mistake to assume that all the fish will just jump in the boat. Whether they "ought" to is an irrelevant discussion. We have to deal with the realities of human nature. The Lt. Gov. knows how to ask. I suggest that others follow his example.

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