The DPG Will Have Some Competition on JJ Night

While Georgia Democrats are welcoming our presidential candidates to the annual JJ Dinner, an estimated 20,000 Baptists will also descend on the World Congress Center for the opening session of the New Baptist Covenant Celebration. (Southern Baptists are not part of this group.) According to Robert Parham, at Ethics Daily, President Jimmy Carter is on the program-not for the DPG, but instead for the Baptists. I noticed on their website that there's an "Al Gore" luncheon the next day. Does that mean Gore will be in town, too? And here's the kicker, Mike Huckabee was initially also confirmed for the evening of the 3oth, but withdrew after Carter said that Bush would go down as one of the worst presidents in history. Now, Parham is advocating re-inviting Huckabee. Wouldn't that be a kick? 20,000 Baptists, a whole bunch of democrats, Carter, Huckabee, most of the democratic presidential candidates, Cleland and Lewis-all at the World Congress Center on Jan. 30th.

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Al Williams is Right

If Rep. Al Williams is looking for the presidential candidate who best understands that Georgia does not end at the perimeter, then John Edwards is definitely the guy for him. Yesterday, as Gov. Bill Richardson addressed the Black Caucus in Atlanta, caucus chair, Rep. Al Williams (D-Hinesville) opined:

(Williams) decried the pattern of candidates coming only for the day to attend a fundraiser before leaving.
"Unfortunately, Georgia ain't nothing but a cash box," Mr. Williams said. "Most of them don't know there's anything but Atlanta."

Williams is, of course, correct. While Georgia is a major source of cash for presidential candidates, most just pop in and out of Atlanta for a day-or a few hours-of fundraising and maybe a public event. It is as if the rest of the state simply does not exist.

Not John Edwards. Edwards is the candidate who has an actual plan for the revitalization of rural America, and both he and Elizabeth have visited rural Georgia on multiple occasions throughout the campaign. John and Elizabeth Edwards have each visited Macon, Elizabeth has visited Savannah, and most recently, both John and Elizabeth Edwards were the guests of President and Mrs. Carter for a public event in Americus, Georgia that drew nearly 2,000 people.

Edwards' appeal to rural America is also reflected in his fundraising. While the other candidates have simply concentrated on Atlanta, John Edwards' fundraising in Georgia "below the gnat line" blows all the other candidates-Democrats or Republicans-out of the water.

This trend is reflected all around the country, and that's significant. John Edwards has strong appeal to rural voters, perhaps because his own roots are in rural America. This ability to appeal to rural voters is just one of the reasons why Edwards is the strongest candidate is general election match-ups. Check recent polling numbers here.

So, Rep. Williams, John Edwards is your guy. In fact, if we want to win, and want at the same time to elect the most progressive president in memory, then John Edwards is the best choice for all of us.

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Carter-Edwards Event Photo Essay

For your weekend viewing pleasure, click below to see a photo essay of the Carter-Edwards event in Americus.

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Passing the Baton

Today, more than 2,000 people turned out in Americus, Georgia to hear President Jimmy Carter introduce presidential hopeful, John Edwards. It was a day about synchronicity and connections. I sat with Macon City Councilman Rick Hutto, who served in the Carter Administration. Chuck and Melanie Byrd were there, returning to their alma mater, where they met. The Byrds and I were in Iowa together just ten days ago volunteering for the Edwards campaign, and today we heard stories from Betty Pope about her days as part of the Peanut Brigade. As Elizabeth would say, knots-connections.

Elizabeth Edwards and Rosalyn Carter sat on the front row during the program, occasionally leaning in to comment quietly to each other. After all, they were the only people in the room who knew what it is like to have a spouse run for President. And, on the stage, Carter and Edwards shared more in common than simply having run for President. Both are southern gentlemen, both were raised Southern Baptist, and thirty years apart both know what it's like to be underdogs in a populist quest for the White House. Today, when Edwards called on Americans to sacrifice to address our dependence on fossil fuels, I heard the echo of Carter's voice asking Americans to conserve when the gas lines were long. The right thing is not always the easy thing. The right thing is often unpopular, frequently politically incorrect-even offensive to some, but it's still the right thing.

Today, in Americus, it was as if the baton was passed, not just from Carter to Edwards, but from the generation that helped propel one Southerner to the White House to a new generation working for that same goal.

(Check back here tomorrow for video of Carter's introduction.)

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Edwards Turns a Corner and is Headed to Georgia

John Edward has turned a corner in his campaign for the White House. Here's a portion of what they're saying over on Alternet:

Edwards is en fuego right now, and if he keeps up the heat, his candidacy will either be widely embraced by the emerging progressive movement or utterly annihilated by an entrenched establishment that fears few things more than a telegenic populist with enough money to mount a credible campaign.

As he dares take on the corporate structure that supports the status quo, he and Elizabeth will be swinging by Americus, Georgia where he will be speaking at Georgia Southwestern with President Carter in attendance. The event has the feel of a moment in history, and it is free and open to the public. Edwards will speak on Wednesday, August 29th at noon at the Student Success Center Convocation Hall on the campus of Georgia Southwestern. Seating will begin at 11:30 a.m. If you are ready for transformational change in this country, you will want to be there.

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Edwards to Speak in Americus, Carter to Attend

According to a news release from Georgia Southwestern State University, President Jimmy Carter will attend a convocation featuring presidential candidate, Sen. John Edwards. The release states that the convocation where Sen. Edwards will speak will be on August 29th at noon in the Student Success Center Convocation Hall. Seating will begin at 11:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public, and the media is encouraged to attend.

For more information contact Stephen Snyder at (229) 931-2037.

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