“The Nunn name means something here in Georgia, but Michelle is completely unknown and untested. She’s never held public office,” said Emory University professor Merle Black.
“She’s never been involved in politics. She’s run a nonprofit and was very good at that, but she’s never been in partisan politics.”
Nunn sought out of the gate to find some distance between herself and national Democrats.
She has offered measured criticism of ObamaCare, though she supports changing rather than repealing the law. And while she personally supports gay marriage, Nunn believes the decision on whether it should be legal should be made by individual states.
Nunn has also emphasized the importance of trimming the national deficit, an issue more often championed by Republicans.
Her campaign website doesn’t mention her political party.
Tharon Johnson, a top Georgia Democratic strategist, said Sam Nunn’s name would boost her campaign.
But he said Michelle Nunn must show voters why she should be elected on her own merits.
“She needs to stand on her own — she has to tell people about her 20-plus years of public service, her work at Points of Light,” he said.
“She has to define herself immediately, which I think they’re planning to do.”
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