After suffering a major defeat in 2014, demoralized Georgia Democrats STILL have not found a candidate to run for Senate. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:
Their struggle to find a star candidate against the two-term incumbent is the latest discouraging sign for Georgia Democrats still trying to come to grips with humbling defeats in 2014.
The party pinned its hopes on changing demographics, youthful candidates and an all-out voter registration effort. But the GOP still swept every statewide office and no Democrat topped 45.2 percent.
While Democrats are struggling to find any candidate, Senator Johnny Isakson is in a strong position to win. Even Democrats admit that they like incumbent Sen. Isakson. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes:
“Even Democrats like me like Isakson,” said former Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat who launched a comeback bid in 2010. “If all Republicans were like Johnny, I would be a Republican.”
Many would-be Democratic candidates are staying out of the fray, leaving Georgia Democrats with few options. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution continues:
*[Michelle] Nunn is taking a new job as CEO of the Atlanta non-profit CARE, a signal that she is not interested in an immediate return to politics. Carter won’t be running in 2016 either.
Former U.S. Rep. John Barrow, an Augusta Democrat who lost his seat last year, has been laying low and has so far resisted entreaties to run. Ditto for former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. Atlanta’s current mayor, Kasim Reed, has vowed to serve out his term through 2017.*
The good news for Republicans continues: as more and more of their ideal candidates opt out of running, it looks like Georgia Democrats are going to be forced to recruit from a lackluster pool of third or fourth tier candidates.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow the Georgia race for the latest developments.