Blogging for Max

An article in Sunday’s USA Today featured in-depth coverage of Georgia’s 12th U.S. Congressional District race between Sylvania educator and former Republican Congressman Max Burns and Athens trial lawyer John Barrow. The piece highlighted Barrow’s vulnerability and confirmed that Democrats are all but counting this race out of their strategy for regaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives. They need gain only 15 seats. From the story:

Elizabeth Billips is a Democrat who sticks with her party for president and voted two years ago to send John Barrow to Congress.

But Billips, 36, said she’ll vote on Nov. 7 for the man Barrow ousted from the House of Representatives in 2004: Republican Max Burns. Chatting as she sold T-shirts proclaiming this the “Bird Dog Capital of the World,” Billips said she likes Burns’ tough stance on illegal immigration and said he’s “personable and very available.”

Then, as if on cue, Burns ambled up to say hello. “See,” Billips said, “he shows up.”

Barrow, 50, also showed up at the recent Burke County Farm Festival. He dashed along the festival’s parade route just behind his rival, who waved from atop a huge “Farmers for Burns” tractor.

Judging by the numerous voters we’ve talked to in the last few months, there are A LOT of Elizabeth Billips’ in the 12th District. These few opening paragraphs also briefly capture the Max Burns that people know and love. “He’s personable and very available.” And that’s the truth.

The imagery of Barrow pathetically trailing along behind Max at the farm festival – acting as if he cares or even KNOWS ABOUT the area while Max waves to friends, family and scores of local well-wishers – is quite amusing. That’s local roots.

The article goes on to highlight the key points in the race like immigration, redistricting, Barrow’s sudden “conservative” change-of-heart, Barrow’s cut-and-run foreign policy, etc. Two paragraphs popped up on an issue that many people have overlooked but is absolutely vital to winning this race:

Chris Grant, a political scientist at Mercer University in Macon, said the race will be decided in rural towns such as Waynesboro and Vidalia, the sweet-onion capital, where Burns campaigned last week. Voters here are deeply religious and tend to vote Republican, though their loyalties to Georgia or Georgia Tech football may run deeper.

Many are concerned about a flood of illegal immigrant farmworkers who have taxed local schools and hospitals,” Grant said.

BINGO! We’re so glad to see the USA Today pick this up. Immigration, agriculture and other local issues will determine the outcome of this election. It quite literally comes down to a choice between a local guy with a record for standing up for the 12th, or an outsider who can’t find the 12th on a map.