8 in ‘08: 9th District GOP Campaign

By: Kevin Harris, 9th District GOP Chairman

9^th District Republican Party Adopts“8 in 08 Campaign”  This weekend, Chairman Larry Toney and the Pickens County GOP hosted the quarterly district committee meeting and annual 9^th District picnic. For the second consecutive year, it was one of the best attended and most enjoyable events in the history of the party. Prior to the food and fun, however, North Georgia Republicans on the district committee unanimously adopted the “8 in 08 Campaign”. To date, this will be the most comprehensive and concentrated effort at the district level to provide resources for Republican candidates in our local communities.  Earlier this year, the 9^th District Election Task Force was created to provide a comprehensive overview of each race in the fifteen counties across North Georgia. From the report, the district committee unanimously approved the “8 in 08 Campaign”. The committee reviewed and identified eight local races in the fifteen counties where Democrats were elected in 2004. Due to a variety of reasons, however, the identified races should be competitive and the Republican nominee should have an excellent opportunity to present their case for change directly to the voters.

  In the last ten years, every county in North Georgia except one has increased the number ofRepublican elected officials. In fact, the number of Democrat elected officials in North Georgia has been cut in half in the same period. The “8 in 08 Campaign” is a strategic effort by ourdistrict leadership to partner with our county parties to continue our recent success against good ole’ boy politics and the Democratic machine that plagued our state for decades.   It will be interesting to watch North Georgia Democratic party leaders in their attempt to brand their Presidential nominee, Barack Obama, as a new breed of politician. Meanwhile, Democrat incumbents and candidates on the ballot will attempt to distance themselves and pretend that they did not even choose to be on the Democratic ticket, while needing assistance from the same party and leaders to get elected. While this tactic has worked in past elections, voters are beginning to hold this type of politicians more accountable.  

The former Democratic Speaker of the United States Congress, Tip O’Neill, once stated: “all politics is local”. While so many things in life change and transition, his quote is as true today as it has ever been. When it comes down to our local officials, more people are concerned with the safety of their community, the quality of their schools, and the economic opportunities that are available to provide for their families. This year, the Presidential and Congressional races have received a lot of attention across the country. The caliber of local Republican candidates, in combination with the liberal agenda of Barack Obama, is why Republicans in North Georgia will have a good year in 2008.

Kevin Harris is the Chairman of the 9^th District Republican Party.

 Ninth District Quick Fact:  The 9^th District GOP successfully completed the most successful candidate recruitment effort in its history. Following the recent July primaries, there are 83 Republicans across the 9^th District that will be reelected in November without Democratic opposition. In contrast, there are only 21 Democrats that will automatically be reelected without opposition.