Isakson launches bid for second term in Senate

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson has a $2.3 million campaign war chest, solid backing from Georgia’s Republican establishment and high name recognition from more than two decades in elected office.

By Shannon McCaffrey, Associated Press — Feb 18, 2009

So, perhaps it’s no surprise that not a single Georgia Democrat has emerged yet to challenge the GOP incumbent as he officially launched his re-election bid on Tuesday.

With more than 20 months to go before Election Day in 2010, the race for governor in Georgia has already drawn a crowded field of would-be candidates. But ask the state’s political operatives which Democrats might line up to take on Isakson and get ready for silence.

“I think Isakson appears to be unbeatable at this point,” Emory University political science professor Merle Black said Tuesday.

“He looks like a very tough incumbent and I think Democrats in the state know that.”

Isakson, an Atlanta real estate executive who served for 17 years in the state Legislature, kicked off his campaign at the state Capitol on Tuesday surrounded by a “who’s who” of the Georgia GOP.

“In 2004 y’all gave me a great privilege, you elected me to the United States Senate,” Isakson said to cheers. “I am reapplying for the job.”

Isakson’s announcement came as a surprise to no one. He made clear last May that he would seek re-election to the Senate, disappointing some who had hoped he would run to replace Sonny Perdue when the governor’s second term expires. Now, five Republicans are jockeying for the Republican nomination for governor. One Democrat has entered the race and two others - including former Gov. Roy Barnes - are considering it.

Part of the problem with recruiting a strong Democratic candidate against Isakson for the Senate is that the governor’s race - which has no incumbent or clear GOP front runner - is viewed as having far better odds.

Another hurdle is last year’s U.S. Senate runoff. Democrat Jim Martin was trounced in a high-profile runoff against U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, sending a strong signal that despite Democratic gains elsewhere around the country, Georgia remained a reliable Republican bastion.

Martin Matheny, spokesman for the Georgia Democratic Party, said Democrats will field a strong contender against Isakson.

“One thing we’ve been working on is building our Democratic bench,” Matheny said.

Matheny noted the race is still more than a year and a half away, a lifetime in politics.

Isakson said Tuesday that he’s launching his re-election bid early, in part, because of the vast amount of money he needs to raise.

“We’ve all seen what Georgia politics has been like the last few years,” Isakson told reporters in Atlanta.

Tuesday’s state Capitol news conference was the first stop in a statewide tour for Isakson. In the coming days he will make stops in Columbus, Macon, Albany, Augusta, and Savannah.

On Tuesday, Isakson defended his vote against the $787 million federal stimulus package even as he allowed that it will mean “significant money coming to Georgia” for cash-strapped programs like Medicaid and transportation. Perdue said Tuesday that the stimulus cash is helping the state fund a tax relief grant that will prevent homeowners from being hit with an additional tax bill of $200-$300 this year.

Isakson opposed the stimulus bill for containing too much wasteful spending and too few tax cuts.

He had pushed unsuccessfully for a $15,000 home buyer tax credit to be included in the economic stimulus package.