results of the poll confirmed Bobbyâs hunch. His last name would provide a big leg up on his opponents in the primary, even without a real blood tie to the legendary Georgia dynasty. So he jumped into the race, and his campaign team crafted a theme subtly suggesting a connection without actually saying there was. They purchased billboards all over the state proclaiming:
TALMADGE
HISTORY, TRADITION, COURAGE, CONVICTION
No, Bobby Talmadge was no political dummy. If someone asked if he was related to the epochal Talmadge dynasty, he would answer truthfully, âWeâre not directly related, as far as I know.â
But most people didnât ask. Most assumed. Low-information voters were easily manipulated. And he capitalized on the name all the way to the U.S. Senate.
To confuse the matter even more, Bobby had ordered his staff to hang on the walls of his office the portraits of several former U.S. senators from Georgia, both Democrat and Republican: Sam Nunn. Mack Mattingly. Paul Coverdell. Zell Miller. Saxby Chambliss. Johnny Isakson . . . and, of course, Herman Talmadge.
Above the collection of portraits, he had his staff place a plaque in gold, engraved in black, titled âThe Great Peach StateâThe Wall of Bipartisanship.â
Bobbyâs portrait hung right beside that of his famous predecessor with the same last name for the benefit of those Georgia school groups, civic groups, and Chamber of Commerce types who came up for office tours. They would return to the Peach State and vote, and persuade others to vote.
Every potential vote had to be accounted for. No stones uncovered.
Hopefully, by the end of this first term, he wouldnât have to piggyback on the Talmadge name of the past, but instead would achieve reelection based on his own accomplishments.
He sat in his Washington office, his leather cowboy boots propped on his desk, going round and round on the phone with a young political reporter from the Atlanta Constitution who undoubtedly, given the young pupâs liberal political bias, champed at the bit for some out-of-context quote to benefit the Democrats in next yearâs election.
Clearly an environmental wacko, the reporter opposed all forms of energy exploration, and not just worthwhile projects like the Keystone Pipeline or projects on Alaskaâs North Slope, but those of more immediate relevance. Like Exxonâs request for federal approval to begin drilling off the Georgia coastline.
The proposal had generated fiery opinions from all corners. Bobby, who favored the project along with anything else that brought jobs to Georgia, measured his words to avoid any foot-in-mouth slip-ups that could be blown out of proportion.
âYes, Johnny. Of course we must be environmentally sensitive. But we also need jobs in Savannah and along the Georgia coast. And if those rigs donât get built off the Georgia coast, Exxon will move them a few miles to the north, off the South Carolina coast, where their senators are lobbying for the project. If thereâs a spill, it could float down to our beaches anyway, and Savannah wouldnât have gotten the same economic benefit that Beaufort or Charleston would have gotten . . . Yeah . . . yeah . . . of course I respect their opinions.
âBut Iâve also got to respect the Georgians who are still unemployed down on our coast from the last recession. They need jobs for their families to put food on the table . . . No . . . Yes, of course I remember the BP disaster off Louisiana . . . What do I think of it? Well, I think itâs a rare occurrence for one thing, and weâve got a ton of improved safety measures . . . Right . . . right . . .â He shook his head. âBut, Johnny . . . with respect, youâre missing the point . . .â
The cub reporter railed on and on. Was there a question in there somewhere? This kid should resign his job as a political reporter and just go ahead and seek the Democrat
TALMADGE
HISTORY, TRADITION, COURAGE, CONVICTION
No, Bobby Talmadge was no political dummy. If someone asked if he was related to the epochal Talmadge dynasty, he would answer truthfully, âWeâre not directly related, as far as I know.â
But most people didnât ask. Most assumed. Low-information voters were easily manipulated. And he capitalized on the name all the way to the U.S. Senate.
To confuse the matter even more, Bobby had ordered his staff to hang on the walls of his office the portraits of several former U.S. senators from Georgia, both Democrat and Republican: Sam Nunn. Mack Mattingly. Paul Coverdell. Zell Miller. Saxby Chambliss. Johnny Isakson . . . and, of course, Herman Talmadge.
Above the collection of portraits, he had his staff place a plaque in gold, engraved in black, titled âThe Great Peach StateâThe Wall of Bipartisanship.â
Bobbyâs portrait hung right beside that of his famous predecessor with the same last name for the benefit of those Georgia school groups, civic groups, and Chamber of Commerce types who came up for office tours. They would return to the Peach State and vote, and persuade others to vote.
Every potential vote had to be accounted for. No stones uncovered.
Hopefully, by the end of this first term, he wouldnât have to piggyback on the Talmadge name of the past, but instead would achieve reelection based on his own accomplishments.
He sat in his Washington office, his leather cowboy boots propped on his desk, going round and round on the phone with a young political reporter from the Atlanta Constitution who undoubtedly, given the young pupâs liberal political bias, champed at the bit for some out-of-context quote to benefit the Democrats in next yearâs election.
Clearly an environmental wacko, the reporter opposed all forms of energy exploration, and not just worthwhile projects like the Keystone Pipeline or projects on Alaskaâs North Slope, but those of more immediate relevance. Like Exxonâs request for federal approval to begin drilling off the Georgia coastline.
The proposal had generated fiery opinions from all corners. Bobby, who favored the project along with anything else that brought jobs to Georgia, measured his words to avoid any foot-in-mouth slip-ups that could be blown out of proportion.
âYes, Johnny. Of course we must be environmentally sensitive. But we also need jobs in Savannah and along the Georgia coast. And if those rigs donât get built off the Georgia coast, Exxon will move them a few miles to the north, off the South Carolina coast, where their senators are lobbying for the project. If thereâs a spill, it could float down to our beaches anyway, and Savannah wouldnât have gotten the same economic benefit that Beaufort or Charleston would have gotten . . . Yeah . . . yeah . . . of course I respect their opinions.
âBut Iâve also got to respect the Georgians who are still unemployed down on our coast from the last recession. They need jobs for their families to put food on the table . . . No . . . Yes, of course I remember the BP disaster off Louisiana . . . What do I think of it? Well, I think itâs a rare occurrence for one thing, and weâve got a ton of improved safety measures . . . Right . . . right . . .â He shook his head. âBut, Johnny . . . with respect, youâre missing the point . . .â
The cub reporter railed on and on. Was there a question in there somewhere? This kid should resign his job as a political reporter and just go ahead and seek the Democrat
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