Giuliani speaks for Isakson, highlights political speaker divide

<p>When former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani spoke on behalf of U.S. Senate candidate Johnny Isakson on Tuesday, it showed a rift in how the two major parties in Georgia view endorsements from political stars from outside the state.</p><p>Republicans say their growing popularity in Georgia lets them bring in top names from across the nation _ raising money for their candidates while energizing their core supporters.</p><p>Democrats, meanwhile, say they're happy keeping leaders of the national party at arm's length. They say moderate Georgia Democrats have never been in lockstep with some of their more liberal national counterparts and that independent-minded Peach State voters don't respond well to outside endorsements anyway.</p><p>Giuliani, who gained national fame after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York, spoke at a lunchtime fund-raiser for Isakson in Macon. The event was expected to raise about $75,000 for the Republican congressman's campaign against Democratic U.S. Rep. Denise Majette for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Zell Miller.</p><p>"When Americans think of individuals who epitomize the virtues of leadership and courage in public service, Rudy Giuliani is at the top of the list," Isakson said in a statement.</p><p>Other Republicans who have come to Georgia to stump for Isakson include Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.</p><p>Democrats, meanwhile, said they doubt Giuliani's visit will have any impact on the race _ which most polls show Isakson leading.</p><p>"The bottom line is that it doesn't work bringing outsiders into Georgia and it never will," said Rick Dent, a spokesman for Isakson's Democratic opponent, Rep. Denise Majette. "Voters don't like being told who to vote for by anybody and they certainly don't like it when outsiders tell them what to do."</p><p>There's some truth to that, said Mike Digby, a political scientist at Georgia College and State University.</p><p>"Bringing in big-name speakers is not going to have a profound effect on the campaign," said Mike Digby, chairman of the department of government and sociology at Georgia College and State University. "It's not going to persuade a whole lot of voters either way."</p><p>He said Georgia's independent voting streak can be traced back for decades _ and even included a rebuffing of one of the most popular presidents in history.</p><p>In 1938, Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt campaigned in Georgia for U.S. Senate candidate Lawrence Camp _ a state lawmaker who supported Roosevelt's New Deal policies.</p><p>Despite Roosevelt's popularity in Georgia, Camp finished a distant third in the Democratic primary _ after some Georgians complained about the outside interference.</p><p>Digby said Isakson and other candidates do gain some advantage because well-known personalities like Giuliani bring attention to their campaigns.</p><p>"It's a way for the candidate to get his photo in the newspaper, get television coverage, that kind of thing," Digby said.</p><p>Visitors like Giuliani also tend to energize core Republican voters, who likely already support Isakson, and remind them to vote in the race, he said.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/10/159466