What's your view on the Ford/Corker Race?

[liberalpragmatist]

I know it's still within the MoE, but most of the recent polls have Corker ahead by 1 or 2 points and Ford's unfavorables higher than Corker's.

Do you see momentum shifting towards Corker? GOP voters coming home? Can we still win this thing?

On a sidenote, should he lose, what becomes of Harold Ford? I can't imagine him just retiring from politics at his age. Governor in 2010 or Senate again in 2008?

[SharonAnn]

1. It's going to be close right up to the end. Anti-Ford ads are getting ugly

and it'll probably depend on the advertizing at this point.

[CraigHinTenn]

2. I've been a poll watcher the last 2 days in North Nashville, turnout

has been VERY strong and in this are it will be 95%+ Ford. The turnout will be the key, but I'm worried because the republicans are so much better getting out the vote. I only wish they were that good at governing.

[TornadoTN]

3. That reminds me of the sleaze that I saw the other day

While walking out of the local Hardware store, I heard a small plane flying overhead, so I naturally looked up because it was flying so low. It was a small prop plane with a large banner flying behind it that said "ABORTION IS TERROR" and prominetely featured a large, gory photo of an aborted fetus. Come to find out, it was sponsored by a Right-Wing religious get out the vote group that is working on getting people out to the polls just on the abortion issue alone. This will work in Eastern Tennessee because it is heavily Pro-Life and some one issue voters will answer the call to arms.

[Flirtus]

14. where the heck are you?

And, I'm so sorry for you, but I'll never come visit!

[tnlefty]

4. I don't intend to seem abrupt, but right now I don't have one!

I've been driving people to vote and trying to help out in my local headquarters in between pickups and we're VERY busy. Early vote numbers are already higher this early, people are requesting rides and assistance to vote. Folks are still canvassing and phone banking like crazy, people are doing visibility, the phones there are ringing off of the hook, there is still organizing to be done for the time that early voting ends (Nov. 2) until election day. I'm just too busy to have a since of it one way or the other.

We're trying really hard! :hi:

[Tippy]

6. We have been very busy too.....

Ford was here this morning at 7:00AM for a GOTV Rally good turn out...

[tnlefty]

20. Good grief, I'm tired! That should be 'sense" not since.

:blush: :blush: :blush:

[Tippy]

5. I follow polls a lot of them...

One that hurt us the most lately was Zogby......but it was an inveractive or if you will an online poll, that anyone can sign up to take....not nearly as reliable as phone polls.....I have polled for them for years yet only recently I was no longer recieving any polls for them...I mentioned that fact on DU and guess what within a week they sent me new poll...was this a coincidence...you be the judge....

[Name removed]

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[Ethelk2044]

8. Ford

Dems like you are why Kerry is not President and we do not
have the control of the house or the Senate.   At least I have
one thing to say.  The repugs know how to keep it together. 
That is something we should do.  If he does make in the the
race,  make sure you do not call his office asking for favors.

[Name removed]

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[Ethelk2044]

12. Ford

The way I decide to vote, is by looking at the whole issue. 
Who is the best out of the two.  I do not decide on a single
issue.  Because I would lose sight of getting the best
candidate in office.  I do not lose my principles by voting
this way.  I choose to have a candidate who has more in common
with me.   Because then I have a chance of myself and others
trying to change is mind.   I agree with Claire Beth.  That is
the best way to decide who to vote for.  

[Name removed]

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[Claire Beth]

10. so your answer

is to vote for a candidate who cannot and will not win? That's cutting your own throat along with those who might be willing at some point in the future to help with gay rights. I have plenty of friends who are gay and I am NOT opposed to gay rights, marriage, etc. but your solution only creates more of a problem for that in which you are figting against. We first have to move TN out of the RED. THe only way to do this is vote for moderate candidates. One step at a time. I'm sorry for your anger towards the democratic party, but it DOES make a difference.
:dem:

GO FORD!

[tnlefty]

11. Did you check with your local election commission office before you

wrote in Harvey Milk's name if he's not a registered write in candidate? In my county if someone isn't a registered write-in candidate and you write someone in it results in your entire ballot being trashed. I don't like this as I think a person should be allowed to vote however they wish, but that is the way that it is. If you felt so strongly about a protest vote, there was another candidate listed on the ballot in the senate race.

[SharonAnn]

13. I think only your vote in that race is discarded. Not your entire ballot.

[Flirtus]

15. Really? I didn't know that

I thought every time I voted for my mom via write in someone was counting it. At least that's what I tell her!

[tnlefty]

19. That's what Rep. Favors and 2 other people told me while we were

standing out on the street in front of headquarters waiting to attend a meeting. I had devised a plan (all agreed that it was a great way to check the accuracy of the vote) and I was told that a vote for a non-registered write in candidate would result in the entire ballot being discarded. I was horrified as I had written in candidates at times. Rep. Favors told me that there was some legislation being worked on to go before the General Assembly to change this, but after things calm down (Nov. 8th or 9th), I'll try to remember to ask about it again!

[SharonAnn]

21. Again, I think it's your write-in vote that's discarded, not your ballot.

For a write-in vote to count in Tennessee, the person being written in has to notify the election Office that they are running as a write-in candidate and submit the appropriate forms, etc.

Any random write-ins, where the person written in did not notify the election Commission and submit the proper paperwork, are discarded and are not counted.

[tnlefty]

33. Well, this time write-ins were actually counted!

Not listed by names of those written in, but the total number of write-in votes were tallied! :hi:

[iamjoy]

16. I Like Ford!

I'm not in Tennessee (I'm in Florida).

I read the article on Ford in Newsweek and I saw him on Bill Maher last week. I loved it when he called the Republicans to task for airing a smutty ad when families were watching TV, completely ignoring (denying even) the racial implications behind the ad. Ford strikes me as sincere and canny, an odd combination.

Truth be told, some of Ford's views concern me, he's more Conservative than I'd like. I'm not comfortable with religion, and it sends up red flags when politicians use it. But as I've said in other recent posts, mabye that works for TN. At least Ford tries to articulate how his faith is relevant. No candidate is perfect and it's not selling out your values or choosing the lesser of two evils to vote for a candidate like Ford. We need to be much more tolerant of diverse views if we're ever going to accomplish anything.

We have some Democrats a little to eager too side with big business, but on the good side of issues like marriage equality and reproductive freedoms. That plays well in the northeast. In the South, we have candidates who are a little more conservative on those social issues.

Let's send all these Democrats to Washington and let Reid and Pelosi as MAJORITY leaders keep them in line.

[Tippy]

18. Independents are going for Ford big time.....n/t

[Claire Beth]

22. How do you know this?

I hope you are correct. I'm concerned about the polls being played in the media having Porker up a couple on Ford. What is the source of your information? I know the www.fordfortennesse.com website has information posted that says the independents are heavy for Ford, but I am wondering if you had additional information to confirm this.

:dem:


GO FORD!!!!!!!!!!

[Tippy]

24. Ford's web site confirmed what I have been hearing

from voters all along....I also like to hear what elementry studens are saying...and my grand daughter told me just this past week end, and she attends a predominately republican school...only two in her class room are for Corker...the rest are for Ford, these kids have been right in the last several elections....durring the Kerry campaign the vast majority were for Bush and that is the way the vote went in our county....when I saw the numbers Zogby posted well it fit the patern.....

[Claire Beth]

26. sounds good....

what part of the state are you from? I am in Davidson County and I know there is a lot of support for Ford here, but Davidson county is a blue county. I am curious about the surrounding counties. I heard last week that voting in Williamson county was down.

:dem:


GO FORD.

[Flirtus]

27. our office has three divisions

and the Davidson county one is the (R) problem. I wouldn't have ever thought of it as a blue county. Thanks for a new insight, that guy doesn't fit in with our company AND he doesn't fit in with his county.

Hie thee back to alabammy!

[Tippy]

29. Cookeville here....

[Onlooker]

23. Outside TN, Ford seems awfully appealing

But, from what I've read, in TN, Ford is trying too hard to sound like a moderate Republican, and may have dampened any enthusiasm for him. Also, it sounds like Corker did quite well in the last debate. Do those of you in TN agree with that assessment. I hope not!

[Claire Beth]

25. Ford is appealing

to most of the base here in TN as well a lot of the independents. The middle of the road strategy seems to work well. A true liberal would (sigh) NEVER get elected here.

Corker did okay in the last debate but I would not define it as "quite well". Ford did well, but I don't think either of them really came out a big winner. I am not a fan of the debate forums the candidates have. It is my belief, they should each have two minute intervals to debate each other on the issues they choose. Let them go at it! I have met Ford and he has a charisma about him that is soooo attractive. Corker comes off as as whiney and has the most annoying voice I have ever heard.

GO FORD!

:dem:

[Flirtus]

28. NYTimes just tipped TN into "pink" - my oh my I hope their face is red

Next Tuesday!!

[Clinton Crusader]

30. I'm nervous for various reasons...

First, the cards on the Diebold machines are missing (about a dozen I think) and poll after poll I see has Ford slipping. Do not live in TN, but I am watching this one closely. Im nervous..Anyone have recent polls.

[Ethelk2044]

32. Ford Chances

It seems like Ford has a real good chance of winning.

[Name removed]

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