Friday, June 25, 2004
Mac Collins "Trailing, With Bases Loaded"
Congressman Mac Collins:
I have a very strong base, a grass-roots conservative base, and they are the ones who turn out to vote - especially when the chips are down.
Jim Tharpe, AJC: With 30 days until the July 20 primary, a recent poll indicated that more than 40 percent of Republican voters are still undecided in the Senate race.
So Collins spent part of last week on the hunt for the conservatives he hopes will propel him into an Aug. 10 runoff with Isakson.
At 6:30 a.m. Monday in Fayetteville, Collins was sipping coffee with the regulars at Melears Barbecue, a place where everybody really does know your name and the walls are decorated with patriotic banners, campaign posters and the shelves are laden with ceramic pigs.
Wearing a white dress shirt, red tie, slacks and size 15 cowboy boots - he boasts he has the biggest feet in Congress - Collins sat with a dozen members of the local "coffee club."
Retired four-star Army Gen. William Livsey, 73, traded friendly insults with his fellow coffee drinkers and feigned a lukewarm endorsement.
Livsey is actually part of a coalition of military personnel pledging support for Collins that includes former Army Secretary Howard "Bo" Callaway and ex-Army Chief Warrant Officer Ron Young, a former prisoner of war in Iraq.
"I'm voting for Mac, even though he's never done anything for me," Livsey said.
Collins laughed and shot back, "You come cheap, General."
At Melears and at another coffee group an hour later in Griffin, Collins moved with ease, shaking hands, slapping backs and trading barbs.
Collins hopes his grass-roots approach will solidify his base in rural Georgia while he works to cut into Isakson's turf, the Republican-rich suburbs north of Atlanta. Collins needs both to win. But Collins seems unconcerned. He has, he said, faced tougher odds.
Isakson, who has run two unsuccessful statewide races, is better known and better funded. Collins has raised $1.7 million - including a $250,000 loan to himself - while Isakson has raised $5.5 million.
So, Mac Collins Is "Trailing, With Bases Loaded," - grass-roots conservative base, Veterans base, and the anti-abortion conservatives on 3rd base.
For Mac Collins's Website: "iBackMac" (Click Here)
I have a very strong base, a grass-roots conservative base, and they are the ones who turn out to vote - especially when the chips are down.
Jim Tharpe, AJC: With 30 days until the July 20 primary, a recent poll indicated that more than 40 percent of Republican voters are still undecided in the Senate race.
So Collins spent part of last week on the hunt for the conservatives he hopes will propel him into an Aug. 10 runoff with Isakson.
At 6:30 a.m. Monday in Fayetteville, Collins was sipping coffee with the regulars at Melears Barbecue, a place where everybody really does know your name and the walls are decorated with patriotic banners, campaign posters and the shelves are laden with ceramic pigs.
Wearing a white dress shirt, red tie, slacks and size 15 cowboy boots - he boasts he has the biggest feet in Congress - Collins sat with a dozen members of the local "coffee club."
Retired four-star Army Gen. William Livsey, 73, traded friendly insults with his fellow coffee drinkers and feigned a lukewarm endorsement.
Livsey is actually part of a coalition of military personnel pledging support for Collins that includes former Army Secretary Howard "Bo" Callaway and ex-Army Chief Warrant Officer Ron Young, a former prisoner of war in Iraq.
"I'm voting for Mac, even though he's never done anything for me," Livsey said.
Collins laughed and shot back, "You come cheap, General."
At Melears and at another coffee group an hour later in Griffin, Collins moved with ease, shaking hands, slapping backs and trading barbs.
Collins hopes his grass-roots approach will solidify his base in rural Georgia while he works to cut into Isakson's turf, the Republican-rich suburbs north of Atlanta. Collins needs both to win. But Collins seems unconcerned. He has, he said, faced tougher odds.
Isakson, who has run two unsuccessful statewide races, is better known and better funded. Collins has raised $1.7 million - including a $250,000 loan to himself - while Isakson has raised $5.5 million.
So, Mac Collins Is "Trailing, With Bases Loaded," - grass-roots conservative base, Veterans base, and the anti-abortion conservatives on 3rd base.
For Mac Collins's Website: "iBackMac" (Click Here)
