Noon -- Lowell Greenbaum is chairman of the Richmond County Democratic Party.
| Mike Wynn: I would like to welcome everyone to our live election day chat. Our first of more than 20 guest commentators today is Lowell Greenbaum, chairman of the Richmond County Democratic Party. Good afternoon, Lowell. |
| Lowell Greenbaum: Glad to be here. It will be a great day for Democrats and the country. |
| Mike Wynn: How excited are you right now? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: I am extremely excited but we are so busy taking folks to the polls that it is hard to relax. |
| Mike Wynn: OK. Here's the big question everyone's wondering about. Who did you vote for? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: Ha Ha. Barack Obama , Jim Martin,Bobby Saxon, Ed Tarver & Jim Powell |
| Mike Wynn: What have you seen at the polls so far today? What have the lines been like? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: This is a most amazing election. The lines are about an hour to two hours long. There is no question in my mind that we are going through a vast change in our government |
| Mike Wynn: I know you were an early supporter of Hillary Clinton. When Obama won a hard-fought contest for the Democratic Party presidential nomination, what was your greatest concern for the Illinois senator heading into the general election campaign? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: Thats a very good question. I was concerned that the party would splinter and that the message would be lost. But the Clintons healed the wounds quickly and unlike the Republicans we are solidly on message. |
| Mike Wynn: Here's a comment from someone who seems to believe that you're pretty confident about today's outcome. |
| fedupchris: wipe that grin off your face lowell |
| Lowell Greenbaum: Look, you win some and you lose some. If I am grinning its because the Richmond County Party has combined with the Obama group and the Barrow group, and the unions here to be united. I think that will bring us victory. |
| august: Hey Mr. Greenbaum when and where will the Richmond County Democratic Party be celebrating tonight? And more importantly when will the champagne be opened? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: We will be starting at 7:30PM at our HQ 1101 Greene St and we will go on forever. Champagne will opbe opened I think about 10:30. When you hear our alarm go off we are drinking champagne. |
| Mike Wynn: What signs should people look for early today that gives them an idea who is winning? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: Look at N Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania. If they go blue, McCain is sunk. Don't omit Georgia and the fact that Jim Martin may force a runnoff with Chambliss or even win. |
| august: Do you have any thoughts on the California GOP’s complaint about Obama’s trip to visit his ailing grandmother? The clam that it was a personal expense instead of a campaign related one. |
| Lowell Greenbaum: I tried to think if that happened to me, how would I react? Obama was so good on how he handled the trip and yesterday her death, I don't think anyone is questioning the expense. |
| sonic_imperial: Will Obama win Georgia? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: He was behind by 5 points yesterday. However victory in Georgia depends on the Black voter's turnout. In early voting 38% of all voters in Georgia were Black. If that holds up or comes close Obama wins Georgia. |
| Mike Wynn: If one of the southern states go blue, what would that say about the solid southern block of states that was the backbone of the GOP? Which one do you think Obama has the best shot at winning? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: Georgia is the pinkest of the deep south meaning he has a chance here. The big blow to the Republicans would be N Carolina and Virginia. Mississippi is trying to turn blue but will probably not make it. |
| august: Have you received any reports of voting problems? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: Nothing very overt. We are busy helping a lot of voters ( 3 phones busy) with where they vote, if they are registered, and if they need a ride to the polls. We have over 25 drivers ready. |
| atl8604: Does McCain have to win Ohio to have a chance? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: Yes he has to win Ohio to stay alive but the pundits have shown he has to win several more including Pennsylvania. |
| Mike Wynn: Do you think McCain has any shot of winning Pennsylvania? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: He certainly is trying very hard and that would be a nice victory for him. But Joe Biden has such deep roots there that I would be suprised if McCain wins it. Ohio and Pennsylvania are closely linked and I think if one goes to one of the candidates the other will too. |
| Mike Wynn: What has impressed you the most about Obama during both the primaries and general election season? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: A winner has to have charisma and a vision. Both Hillary and Barack had that. Obama hit the right notes from the beginning with the young people who really are the ones who see that they can do it if they band together. We older folks sat back and said that it may be a flash in the pan. But it isn't and Obama appealed to the youth of the country and in doing so both in the primary and general election maintained his message/ |
| atl8604: Do you think Palin's lack of experience will cost McCain the presidency? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: John McCain should have picked one of the stalwart Republican women like Kay Bailey Hutcheson, Olympia Snow, both who could if needed ben presidential. Sarah Palin was a gift to the extreme right and their backward principles. I wrote to the Chronicle right after her choice and I said that Palin was an insult to the women and the Republicans of the country. Over 60% of the public gives her unfavorable ratings. He lost the election when he chose her and showed that he can't be logical at all times but erratic. |
| Rozzie2003: Mike, why do many white southerners vote Republican when they have benefited greatly from Democratic administrations? |
| Mike Wynn: Rozzie2003, I'm going to let Lowell answer that. |
| Lowell Greenbaum: When the Civil rights act was signed in the 1960s President Johnson knew that he had lost the South. The Democrats bolted in large numbers over the years and it is only recently that we see a glimmer of change. If just one of the southern states turns blue, then the Republican are in future trouble. |
| Barry Paschal: Dr. Greenbaum, what's a realistic prognosis on Bobby Saxon's chances in the 10th Congressional District? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: Barry, I think again it turns on the turnout of Black voters. As you know, once the chips start falling, there is a chance of victory. I think it will be difficult for Bobby Saxon, but he has been a very good candidate and he may suprise. |
| august: I know it's early but are there any indications of increased turnout among younger voters. Was Obama successful in rallying them? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: From what I see in person and the enthusiasm in the Obama HQ, I think they are still ver much with him. We will have to await the results to see if they came through for him. |
| Mike Wynn: Whoever wins is likely going to have to find some way to bring together a pretty divided country. What qualities do you see in Obama that makes you believe he is the one that would do the best job? |
| Lowell Greenbaum: Ok, the current Republican administration has failed not only Republicans but the country as well. McCain can't shake from people's mind that he is part of the eight years of Bush. Obama is seen as a new direction despite his short time as Senator while McCain does not have the ability to make his message of change stick. Unfortunately, he reorted to terrible attacks on Obama lately and his message of change completely collapsed. |
| Mike Wynn: Thanks, Lowell. We'll see you again at 1 a.m. with our next guest, Dave Barbee. |
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