Earlier primary, longer runoffs planned for Georgia | Online Athens

ATLANTA — When Democrat Jim Martin forced Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss into a runoff five years ago, he had just four weeks to win over voters.

In the end, Martin fell behind and lost.

That four-week window is now about to expand to nine — giving candidates twice the amount of time to raise money and spend it on advertising and voter turnout — after a federal judge reset the state’s calendar for federal elections, moving up the primary and dramatically extending the time preceding runoffs.

“Traditionally, in a month candidates are able to maintain their momentum to carry them to the finish line,” said Tharon Johnson, a Democratic strategist who led President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign in the South. “In this case, with both candidates having two months to raise money and campaign, it gives both candidates an opening to implement a new winning strategy.”

For campaign strategists hired by candidates to plot a path to victory, the changes appear to have happened early enough that there is time to make the necessary adjustments. Most will be looking at fundraising and campaign cash, weighing how much to set aside for a runoff. With more time to raise money during a runoff, a candidate may decide there’s no need to leave anything in the bank and spend everything to ensure a spot.

“Moving up the primary, it does put a lot more pressure on the candidate to raise the resources to execute their campaign plan,” said GOP strategist Eric Tanenblatt, who served as finance co-chair for Mitt Romney’s presidential bid.

The biggest change may be voter turnout and effort will need to be made to educate voters on the new date. With the primary happening in June, before the height of summer vacations, more voters should be around and willing to head to the polls. With an increase in turnout comes an increase in the likelihood of a mainstream candidate, which could affect how candidates appeal to voters.

At the same time, a protracted and fierce runoff could also weaken the eventual winner heading into a general election especially if the other party’s candidate faced little opposition.

“The sooner you sort out who your nominee is and the more time you have to plan for the general election the better,” Tanenblatt said.

via Earlier primary, longer runoffs planned for Georgia | Online Athens.