# Does Michelle Nunn have a chance to be elected US Senator from GA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 20, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321 "2013-09-20T16:01:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/1 "2013-09-20T16:01:22Z")
Several sources note that currently all statewide offices in Georgia are held by Republicans (and in the past couple of elections, for local offices, I haven’t even seen a Democrat on the ballot, let alone get elected). Michelle Nunn, daughter of former US Senator Sam Nunn, is seeking election in 2014 as a US Senator from Georgia. I have read through her campaign materials, and she seems pretty middle-of-the-road (i.e. “sane”), so I did something I very rarely do: I donated. But hope aside, does she have a realistic chance of winning the general election? (personal politics aside, I would think most people agree that it is a Generally Bad Idea to have one party hold all the offices, regardless of which party that is) ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/2 "2013-09-20T16:09:36Z")
I didn’t realize Broun had any competition. Shows you how much attention I pay. She definitely gets my vote. Now that I know, I may even put a sign in my yard. To answer your question, no, I don’t think she has a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/3 "2013-09-20T16:11:46Z")
Sounds like this will be a very interesting campaign and election; please keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/4 "2013-09-20T16:41:28Z")
That “sane” thing is going to be her downfall. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/5 "2013-09-20T16:43:40Z")
Georgia’s getting closer to being within reach for Democrats, believe it or not. Romney won Georgia last year, of course, but with only 53% of the vote, despite the Obama campaign’s having basically skipped Georgia in 2012. That said, Dems tend to do worse in midterms since the electorate tends to be older and whiter then. So despite her family name, Nunn has a _very_ uphill fight. I’d say she’s got a chance, but only if the GOP nominates someone who’s wingnutty even by Georgia standards, and even then the odds would be at least 4-1 in favor of the wingnut. I think that by 2020, Georgia will be genuinely competitive. But in 2014? Probably not. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/6 "2013-09-20T16:58:43Z")
So you’re saying her chances aren’t _“slim,”_ but . . . ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/7 "2013-09-20T17:46:05Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That “sane” thing is going to be her downfall. Hey, c’mon, this is Georgia, not North Carolina! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/8 "2013-09-20T17:47:07Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’d say she’s got a chance, but only if the GOP nominates someone who’s wingnutty even by Georgia standards . . . How big a deal is the Tea Party in Georgia? ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/9 "2013-09-20T17:48:44Z")
Part of her problem is that her campaign has very little substance right now - it’s all “Hey, I’m the daughter of that Senator you liked 40 years ago”. Which is not enough to win the election when you’re the underdog. Our last Senate election went to a runoff, surprising most of us, but that was because there was a spoiler on the ballot. I doubt there will be such a spoiler this year, so I doubt Michelle has much of a chance. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/10 "2013-09-20T17:50:06Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > How big a deal is the Tea Party in Georgia? Somewhere between whale and blimp. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/11 "2013-09-20T19:33:06Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Somewhere between whale and blimp. Either all wet or full of hot air? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/12 "2013-09-20T23:28:44Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Part of her problem is that her campaign has very little substance right now - it’s all “Hey, I’m the daughter of that Senator you liked 40 years ago”. Which is not enough to win the election when you’re the underdog. > > Our last Senate election went to a runoff, surprising most of us, but that was because there was a spoiler on the ballot. I doubt there will be such a spoiler this year, so I doubt Michelle has much of a chance. Problem is, in a red state that’s what Democrats have to do. That’s what Colbert-Busch did in SC. And sometimes it even works. I think Nunn can win, personally. It won’t matter much, because Georgia is still Georgia and a southern Democrat isn’t going to vote the “wrong” way very often. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/13 "2013-09-21T03:51:14Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I think Nunn can win, personally. It won’t matter much, because Georgia is still Georgia and a southern Democrat isn’t going to vote the “wrong” way very often. What sort of Democrat is she, anyway? What are her politics? Does anybody know? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/14 "2013-09-21T04:09:10Z")
If I had to bet, her politics will be whatever is needed to get elected and then keep her job once elected. What are Mark Pryor’s politics? Whatever helps him keep his job. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/15 "2013-09-22T08:51:53Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’d say she’s got a chance, but only if the GOP nominates someone who’s wingnutty even by Georgia standards, and even then the odds would be at least 4-1 in favor of the wingnut. > > I think that by 2020, Georgia will be genuinely competitive. But in 2014? Probably not. That’s about right, I’m afraid. The main reason Georgia looked purple-ish in the past two presidential elections was a HUGE turnout by black voters, and that isn’t likely to happen in a mid-term year. Georgia is still very red. Nunn has my vote, but barring some real Tea Party nuttery from the Republican, her chances are poor. (Of course, you can never rule out Tea Party nuttery…) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/16 "2013-09-22T17:05:16Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > The main reason Georgia looked purple-ish in the past two presidential elections was a HUGE turnout by black voters, and that isn’t likely to happen in a mid-term year. Unless the Pubs really, really piss them off. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/17 "2013-09-22T23:11:19Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Unless the Pubs really, really piss them off. I don’t think even that would do it. I think the big turnouts in '08 and '12 were the Obama effect: the pure joy of voting for a black president. I don’t think anything is likely to happen in these mid-terms which could cause a replication of those turnout numbers. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/18 "2013-09-22T23:12:59Z")
Yep. African-American voters I think need to be motivated to vote FOR someone, they aren’t angry voters. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/19 "2013-09-22T23:15:20Z")
Nunn was bullet-proof, truly invincible, in the day. The GOP depends on **old** voters to win. She’s got a shot at splitting the Elderly White vote. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-michelle-nunn-have-a-chance-to-be-elected-us-senator-from-ga/669321/20 "2013-09-29T22:22:34Z")
Anywhere from 0 to a fighting chance depending on how “legitimate rape” the GOP goes. The local GOP is trying to change when the primary takes place in order to get a more mainstream candidate. If they fail, and one of the nutsos wins the primary, then Nunn has a chance. If one of the more mainstream candidates wins, then Nunn has no shot.