Georgia Democrats have their first announced candidate for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Saxby Chambliss, in what promises to be an interesting race. He is Dale Cardwell, a former newsman for WSB-TV, the Atlanta Cox Television affiliate, who has won six Emmys for tough investigative reporting. Cardwell has the kind of bio that should make the DSCC very happy. An excerpt from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution report on Cardwell's entry:
...Cardwell’s family background is hardcore Democrat. He was born in Kentucky and raised in Alabama, the son of a union man, a coal miner.
His wife Angie, of 21 years, is a hospice nurse. He has two children, 19-year-old Adam and 16-year-old Jessica.
Here’s a tidbit from his official bio: His mother “recalls Dale was born during a particularly brutal winter, and
went as far as wrapping her newborn in blankets and placing him on the opened door of the kitchen oven, in order to ward off the single digit temperatures and biting wind that pounded the mobile home in which they lived.
...Dale learned first hand about harsh economic reality while watching his Dad go on strike and fight for better health care and wages as a member of the United Mine Workers of America, and later when his Dad’s mine closed down in 1976. Pending unemployment sent the family once again to the coal fields of Western Kentucky. Dale attended Ohio County High School in Hartford Kentucky, earned co-captain honors on his football team, and graduated with the distinction of student council class president in 1981.
...Says the new candidate: “If you boil both parties down to the salt, the Republican motto is survival of the fittest. The Democratic motto is do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
Cardwell says his Southern Baptist upbringing would never let him embrace social Darwinism.
It doesn’t sound like Cardwell will be one of those white Democrats who cringe at any mention of religion. He’s a deacon and substitute Sunday school teacher at Dunwoody Baptist.
His bio also lists his hobbies: restoring classic cars, sports, and singing with his brother in their long-time gospel group. So music at fund-raisers will be no problem.
http://www.emergingdemocraticmajorityweblog.com/donkeyrising/archives/001703.php
Also from the AJC:
"Cardwell has provoked early — and extremely high — interest among key Democrats. As consultants, he’s hired on Jeff DiSantis, former executive director of the state party, and Emil Runge, former spokesman for the party. Another former executive director of the party, Jon Anderson, is doing direct mail for Cardwell.
But most interesting was the presence of a half-dozen union officials, including Richard Ray, president of the AFL-CIO in Georgia. "He’s got some good ideas. Some I’m kind of shaky on," said Ray. "He’s got an uphill battle."
"This is no endorsement. We’d like to hear what he has to say," said Ben Myers, political and legislative director of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 613."
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2007/06/04/says_cardwell_chambliss_is_a_b.htmlI know Ben Myers personally and will see him tomorrow night. I'm going to ask his personal feelings on the candidate. Cardwell is a conservative Democrats so he'll ruffle some feathers in the party... but... that may be the only way to win in a statewide Georgia race and he looks better than the only other candidate who is expected to run, Vernon Jones, the CEO of DeKalb County, who voted for Bush in 2004.
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