Former Vice Presidential Candidate, Governor Sarah Palin, sweeps the state of Georgia; hitting 4 cities the day before Georgians head to the polls for an electoral run-off.
The Republican National Committee pulled out all stops for the Saxby Chambliss run off election with Democrat challenger Jim Martin. They flew over 180 volunteers into Georgia from across the nation, including people from Ohio and Houston, Texas. Since the November 4th election day, the RNC has drafted Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, and Rudy Giuliani to come speak at rallies on Saxby’s behalf. Governor Palin has been the biggest draw for Georgia Republicans by far, with reports that Mitt Romney was only able to muster crowds of about 100.
Governor Palin joined incumbent Republican US Senator Saxby Chambliss in a one day, state-wide tour. They started out the day in Augusta at 8:55 am. Palin’s popularity with the Republican base has been somewhat of a phenomenon in a year when Republicans struggled to appeal to voters. One man started waiting in line at midnight Sunday evening determined to be in the front row for the Saxby/Palin rally in Augusta, but most others joined him in line at 6 am.
After the Augusta event the pair headed to Savannah, then off to Perry, and finished the day in Atlanta. Digital Journal covered the Atlanta rally at the Gwinnett Arena scheduled for 4 pm Monday afternoon.
The excitement of those attending was noticeable even in the parking lot despite the brisk chill. There were 15 passenger vans packed with out-of-state volunteers, families in minivans who traveled from North Carolina, and locals alike. Total strangers exchanged chants and laughter as they carried infants as young as 4 months old, pushed wheel chairs of elderly loved ones, and lugged signs for Saxby, Sarah, and our troops. They all had two things in common, smiles and digital cameras.
Once inside the warmth of the arena friendly faces greeted the guests with directions and plenty of fliers urging folks to show up at the voting booths for Saxby.
The stage started filling up with local elected officials. Sheriff Neil Warren of Cobb County and State Senator John Wiles were among some of the first to carve out their spots on the stage. Here in Georgia, this is known as getting your “Randy Sauder” position. Sauder, a former State Senator, was known for making sure he staked out a strategic spot to get the most face time he could out of any photo-op events he attended.
Among the crowd 3-year-old Henry Dyess carried a stick donned with a round “Lipstick Republican” sign and claimed he was there to help Georgians “vote for the right man.” Henry tried to offer Governor Sarah Palin his sign, but when the cardboard cut-out did not reach out to accept the gift, he settled for giving the life size prop a big hug.
Jordann James
3 yr old Henry Dyess with "Lipstick Republican" sign
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Others in the audience included Debra Reid of Lilburn, GA, who brought her 86-year-old mother Belle Reid. Belle's need for a wheelchair was not enough to keep her from the opportunity to come hear Sarah Palin. Belle expressed her support of Palin by saying, “She’s wonderful. Those women jealous of her and their bad remarks, she stood up to them. I’m so proud of her.”
Jordann James
Henry Dyess hugs Sarah Palin poster
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Two men from India were also excited at the chance to hear Palin speak live. Sanjay Saggere began traveling to the US in 1996 for business, and obtained his green card just this past April. Sanjay understands that he cannot vote, but he “can do everything else” here in America. “My children can be President, I can be Secretary of State” he said. When asked what he misses about India, he replied, “nothing.” Donald Sequeira accompanying Sanjay and also from India was eager to share his thoughts as well. Donald first obtained a work permit here in the US in 1995, and became an American citizen on April 2nd of 2008. This was his first year to vote in a United States election. “I came here with twenty dollars in my pocket. Now I have a $3 million business.” Both men were adamant about the importance of immigration laws being enforced.
Jordann James
(right to left) Sherri Reese of Digital Journal interviews Sanjay Saggere and Donald Sequeira at Palin/Saxby rally
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Nine-year-old Benjamin Wright traveled from North Carolina with his family and wanted to meet Sarah Palin to thank her. The Wrights have 5 children, like the Palin family, but 3 of those children are adopted kids who deal with Down syndrome. The Wrights campaigned for McCain/Palin, including their 14 year old son Josiah who participates in a homeschooling group called “Generation Joshua.”
Jordann James
Benjamin Wright with his father
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Michael Youseff of “Leading the Way” ministries leading in prayer. His prayer included confessing to God that “we have broken your moral laws and called it tolerance, and we have denied your Commandments and called it choice, forgive us oh Lord.” Georgia Insurance Commissioner, John Oxendine, lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and in thanking our troops of past and present, our first responders, our teachers, and parents.
Senator Chambliss and his wife entered the stage with loud applause and great energy as the sound system played “Right Now” by Van Halen. During his speech, Saxby claimed Georgians have “a very unique opportunity in this election. Georgia has the opportunity to decide which direction our country is gonna go.” He went on to share that he was “so proud to be a Georgian……I know your values, and I share those values of conservatism, of smaller government…”
Once Chambliss finished addressing the audience, Governor Palin entered the stage. The crowd took to their feet cheering, whistling, and waving signs.
Jordann James
Palin/Saxby rally crowd
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“She was born for this,” claimed Laci Texter of the Saxby Chambliss campaign. This may have been a rally for the Saxby campaign, but it was clear from the people’s response that the people were there for Sarah Palin. Palin took the stage with her traditional style, waving to the mass of supporters and stepping to the microphone with an air of purpose and leadership. Those spectators on the floor in front lost all sense of personal space and swarmed closer to the stage.
Jordann James
Sarah Palin waves to supporters.
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Governor Palin started by sharing about her experience in Georgia last year watching “her son become a man” as he graduated infantry boot camp at Fort Benning, GA. She claimed that Saxby was “exactly the kind of man we need in Washington right now.” She spoke of American frustration with the status quo and touted Chambliss as a man who will think for himself and “provide the kind of reform we need.” The former Vice Presidential candidate addressed energy independence by noting that Saxby has a record of understanding that energy independence is the key to economic prosperity and national security.
Following her speech, Governor Palin took time to shake hands with Georgia State GOP Chairwoman Sue Everhart, US Congressman Tom Price, other elected officials on stage, and many of her admirers in the crowd. She did not stay to give autographs at the Atlanta event due to her busy schedule. After her long day here in Georgia, she was off to meet up with President elect Barak Obama at a National Governor’s Association meeting in Philadelphia, PA schedule for today.
Traditionally Georgia is a safe state for Republican candidates during a general election, but this was not the case for incumbent US Senator Saxby Chambliss. Chambliss was unable to get the needed 50+ % needed to secure his senate seat on November 4th this year. Governor Palin may have been able to draw thousands to Saxby Chambliss rallies the day before the run-off, but it remains to be seen if she was able to get them to show up at the polls to vote for Saxby today.
