(thread) the contest I'm most interested in on Tuesday: Georgia's gubernatorial election. If Stacey Abrams wins or comes close, it'll say a lot about the Democrats and the South and the country. Many months ago, she told me she saw her strategy as a guidebook for her party...
Sitting at The Pullman in ATL, Abrams (over an iced tea) said moving twd the center "hasn’t worked in Georgia in the last few decades," so now was the time to "build a coalition of voters with white progressives" plus "communities of color," with black, Latino, and Asian voters.
Abrams was paying close attn to the political winds. Ossoff had lost the special and Doug Jones had just won in Alabama. “Jon wasn’t able to boost turnout in areas that I think we can," she said. Stoking prog turnout + demographic changes + Trump, to her, = a fighting chance.
Over recent months, Abrams's campaign has been part of a broader movement of similar Dem contenders who have eschewed milquetoast moderate appeals in the South (Gillum, Beto, etc.)... Tuesday is a test for all, and that approach. Will have implications for 2020 across the board.
“There are those who are surprised by my candor, in part b/c we haven’t seen a
statewide candidate who is as aggressive... But I also hear a lot of quiet ‘thank yous,’ ... it is a good thing, in their mind, to have someone saying these things.” Abrams to me, mo's ago, on GA Dems
statewide candidate who is as aggressive... But I also hear a lot of quiet ‘thank yous,’ ... it is a good thing, in their mind, to have someone saying these things.” Abrams to me, mo's ago, on GA Dems
