State Sen. Ed Tarver, who trounced Marion Williams in Tuesday's Democratic primary with 70 percent of the vote, said he won by targeting voters in his party he could count on. And he also had a little help from Mr. Williams.
Mr. Tarver said Wednesday that he won all but two precincts and swept the high-turnout precincts in predominantly black neighborhoods, such as Eastview Recreation Center, Henry Brigham Center, Johnson Recreation Center, Bernie Ward Center and Mount Calvary Baptist Church.
"So even without a crossover vote, as it has been defined, I still would have won by at least a 60-40 margin," he said.
Although some Republican voters crossed over to vote for Mr. Tarver in the Democratic primary, he did not target Republicans in his election strategy.
"I targeted Democrat voters," he said. "Because it was a primary, you could reasonably expect only those registered Democrats to vote in it. There's no way you can predict who will cross over."
His strategy was to target those voters who consistently vote in every race, he said.
"We had a list, and we communicated with them using direct mail, phone calls and direct contact," he said.
And although Mr. Williams attributed his defeat to a "switcheroo" of Republicans voting in the Democratic primary, Mr. Tarver said that wasn't really the case.
"Folks responded to what he said," Mr. Tarver said. "If any Republicans switched over -- and I do think they did; the numbers show that -- they did that in response to my opponent and their knowledge of him based on his service on the commission."
During eight years on the Augusta Commission, Mr. Williams practiced the politics of confrontation, spoke out on almost every subject that came up and often abstained on crucial votes to thwart his colleagues.
"He said he was going to win," Mr. Tarver said. "He brought the crossover out. His predictions and bold statements made folks determined not to let him win. That's what pushed me up to 70 percent. The African-American community did not embrace him."
Reach Sylvia Cooper at (706) 823-3228 or sylvia.cooper@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
I'm glad Tarver refuted Williams' claims promptly. Tarver buried him for the reasons stated...Williams is an embarrasment to the African-American community and Richmond County in general. He won't go away easily; he loves the sound of his own voice.
WOW! Great margin!
I am proud to call Ed Tarver my friend. Congratulations!
Now go out there and do a good job for EVERYONE.
It seems that the voters are overwhelmingly satisfied with the present state of affairs with the legislative delegation. I see representative Frazier won by an even great margin over a highly financed, and well organized A. K. Hasan.
Williams beat himself. Congrats to Tarver, the best man for the job!
Congratulations, now clean up the Civic Center mess and I'll really be impressed!
Ed Tarver is going to be the new leader and leading force in the in the African-American community in the future. He will be able to bring all African-American communities together again to be a unified force in the future of Augusta politics. The Senator Ed Tarver era has arrived and I pray he will understand his new position as "The Man in the Chair".
Ed Tarver is absolutely correct in his assesment. All you have to do is look at the results of the straw poll questions on the Democratic ballot. Had more Republicans "crossed-over", the yes votes to the very Democratic friendly questions would not have been as high as they were.
Marion Williams should sit down and HUSH up LOL... rest your nerves Marion, rest your nerves LOL...
Marion was not even quoted except for his one word, "switcheroo." Sylvia Cooper is the one that headlined her article "Crossover voters help incumbent nab victory." So which is right? Tarver or Sylvia Cooper? White Republicans didn't need to be sold on Tarver, they already own him. Who's money do you think was used to send those mailouts?
Ed Tarver won because voters saw he was a man who wanted to get something done. Marion Williams wants to show off, argue and create confusion. Most important he wants to live in the past and bring up race on every issue. Williams tries to scare people using race as the scare tool. Can one even begin to think what would have happened if Williams would have won and gone to Atlanta representing us.
Congratulations Mr. Tarver!! Hopefully Marion Williams will get the message and quit politics for good!!
Now if we can get rid of J.B. (DO NOTHING) Powell in November, we'll be half way there.
Ok all,
If Mr.Traver is going to be the "NEW LEADER" in the black communities answer the following.
1)what have he done to date.
2)what is he going to due in the furture.
3)what is he leading?
Remember a leader has commamding authority or influence over people,that I don't see in him.
24 hours has just past and the the good Senator has already disk the Republican crossover voters! I wonder how Clay, Braye, and Ann Boardman, Don Granthan, Jerry Brigham, Joe Bowles, Richard Firiey, E G Maybom, Roy Simkins, Dan Blanton and all of the other Republicans who attended and gave money to his campaign at the "Big" party on he "Hill". I hope history is not repeating itself. Are we seeing the new birth of Charles Walker?
Yankeegirl: He's only one voice in Atlanta for us, and he hasn't even won the election yet. Can he count on the crossovers to vote for him in the general election?
If he's listening to all of his constituents (including those on the Hill) and he's bringing back bacon from Atlanta (MCG other projects/developments) I don't see cause for worry.
Why do people always bring race up? Its the same old argument and its getting old.
Yankee Girl, I gave money and fully supported Ed in this election. I however couldn't vote for him because I voted in the Republican primary. Williams got a whopping 6% of the vote in my district and only 44% in his former commissione district.
As long as Augusta votes Democrats in office we will have no power. Ed however does know how to work with the Republican party.
Captain, the good Senator will not need the crossover votes in the General, because represent a truly Democrat senate saet.
trulyelite, race has nothing to do with this!
All, the Jr. Senator from Richmond County wanted, asks for and recieved the support (votes and money) from the strong Republicans on the hill! What is importants Tarver is now denying it! Republicans will crossover and vote for a better canadidate and Democrats will not!
Why would Senator Tarver switch parties, when a large part of his constituents vote for Democrats? That would be political suicide. As the late great speaker Tip Oneil said, all politics are local. If you don't believe that, just ask AK Hasan and Helen Blocker Adams. Marion lost, I hope he moves on and some of you as well. You're as hung up, as he is.
No one ask Senator Tarver to switch parties!
congrats mr. tarver
That was an eye opening comment from Mr. Joe Bowles.
We all need to stand together to improve the quality of life for all our citizens!
duhjudge & yankeegirl; you have no clue as to what you're speaking about, put down the bottle and step away from the keyboard. Idiots
Sorry, but yes I do.
M. Williams BLOWS BUTT!!!!!!! Get a life and shut yer stinkin' trap-ggeeeeezzzzzz......
And they call him stupid.
Congratulations Mr. Tarver. God only chooses the BEST for his work. We look forward to your coming to visit the Richmond County Schools and supporting ALL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES being THE SUPER ROLE MODEL as you are for everyone. Thanks for your adoption of our school in advance. We look forward to your presence KNOWING that you will and have already made a difference. Don't forget your PROPHECY that you and your wife received days before election day while shopping at a local grocery store. God said to you that day that you would be VICTORIOUS by a 70/30 win. God also ordered you to REST because THE BATTLE HAS BEEN WON AND THE VICTORY HAS BEEN DECLARED ON YOUR BEHALF! Jeremiah 29:11. I know that you are praying for Mr. Williams. So are we. May God continue to show us GRACE AND MERCY AS WE CONTINUE TO WALK THIS JOURNEY THROUGH HIM (CHRIST OUR LORD). We are blessed to have you and will keep you and your family in our prayers.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
