Local Dems see Georgia moving toward ‘Blue State’ – Times-Georgian: News

Robert Sanders, a University of West Georgia political science professor and former county chairman, said he feels the Georgia Democrats have the strongest senatorial candidate they’ve had in many years.

“Michelle Nunn has a pedigree from a time when Democrats were very popular in the state, and she has a lot of backing,” Sanders said.

He also feels Nunn’s chances are better since the Republicans have a number of candidates in the primary and there is massive infighting among them.

Sanders also feels the Democrats have a strong gubernatorial candidate in Jason Carter, grandson of former President Jimmy Carter.

“There’s some dissatisfaction with Gov. Deal after his part in the snowstorm disaster,” he said. “There’s strength in the Republicans having a lot of candidates in the race, but it’s creating a lot of fighting. The Democrats could gain some of the strength they had in the 1990s before the Republican takeover.”

Sanders said the massive change in demographics is helping the Democratic party all across the South.

“When you look at the west Georgia area, it has a large Hispanic and African American population,” he said. “If everybody in Texas voted, it would turn blue. The same thing is happening in Georgia, with more African Americans and Hispanics voting.”

Sanders said in past elections, many independent voters have cast Republican ballots because they have felt that the GOP believes in less government.

“What’s happening now is that we’re seeing more independent voters going Democratic,” he said. “It’s because the policies of the Republican Party are beginning to be out of touch with mainstream views of the American public, particularly on women’s rights and issues such as rape and abortion. People are also more tolerant now of gay rights and gay marriage and what the ‘Dream Act’ would cover in immigration law.”

via Local Dems see Georgia moving toward ‘Blue State’ – Times-Georgian: News.