ATLANTA - Could Georgia voters be on their way to electing the state's first black U.S. senator?
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Republican businessman Herman Cain
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U.S. Rep. Denise Majette could become Georgia's first black member of the U.S. Senate.
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The question might have seemed like the stuff of fiction only a few years ago - even in what was long considered one of the more progressive states of the New South.
But among the 11 major-party candidates vying to replace outgoing Democratic Sen. Zell Miller this year are two black candidates - Republican businessman Herman Cain and Democratic U.S. Rep. Denise Majette - whose campaigns are gaining strength as the July 20 primaries approach.
"Some would probably argue it's been a long time coming," said Mike Digby, a political science professor at Georgia State College and University in Milledgeville. "Here we are in the 21st century, and blacks have been legally franchised since the 1870s. That's a long time to wait before being serious candidates for major statewide offices."
Still, the idea of a Cain-Majette face-off in the Nov. 2 general election is perhaps even more interesting because of what it could mean to the way politicians view - and woo - black voters in Georgia.
"It is definitely a step forward, as opposed to the days of Jim Crow and segregation," said F. Erik Brooks, a political science professor at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.
With polls showing support building among Republicans for Mr. Cain, Mr. Brooks said Ms. Majette may have to put more effort into winning a black electorate that is usually loyal to the Democrats.
"It shows the diversity of ideas and ideology within the black community," Mr. Brooks said of Mr. Cain's candidacy. "For far too long, when one thinks of the African-American community, people tend to think of one ideology, one vision. It's very false."
Indeed, the differences between Mr. Cain and Ms. Majette are striking - but not unexpected given their party affiliations.
Mr. Cain opposes abortion; Ms. Majette favors abortion rights.
Ms. Majette says U.S. forces in Iraq should be brought home as quickly and safely as possible; Mr. Cain is asking voters to maintain resolve in the war on terrorism.
Both are aware that their campaigns are, at the least, destined to become footnotes in the annals of black history. But both also hope to transcend mere racial diversity, hinting that they each want to attract voters with their ideas and political philosophies.
"I think it's important that we have representation at all levels of government that reflect the richness and the diversity of our communities, our state and our nation," said Ms. Majette, a 49-year-old former state court judge, who is completing her first term in Congress representing a metro Atlanta district. "It's not just the issue of race or gender. It really is about representing all Georgians and their priorities and values and beliefs."
Mr. Cain, the 58-year-old former CEO of the Godfather's Pizza chain, said a political race in which black candidates run from both sides of the political spectrum is healthy for the state.
"This is one of the things that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. included as part of his dream, and that was that we would see the day when a person would be judged more by the content of their character than by the color of their skin," said Mr. Cain, who lives in the southern Atlanta suburb of McDonough. "I believe what it means is that more people are looking at the person and not the color."
Ms. Majette, who lives in Stone Mountain, is running against six other Democrats in the primary, including multimillionaire businessman Cliff Oxford, of Marietta, and state Sen. Mary Hodges Squires, of Norcross. If a single candidate fails to win a majority of the votes, which appears likely, a runoff will be held Aug. 10.
In the GOP race, Mr. Cain faces significant challenges from U.S. Reps. Johnny Isakson and Mac Collins. Mr. Isakson has raised more money than Mr. Cain and Mr. Collins throughout the campaign but is failing to poll above 50 percent.
Reach Brian Basinger at (404) 589-8424 or brian.basinger@morris.com.
