Though Georgia is considered a relatively solid Republican state in presidential elections, its changing demographic composition has made it an increasingly attractive target for Democrats.
The Republican candidate, David Perdue, has been working as a businessman for 40 years, including roles as CEO at both Reebok and Dollar General. He also chaired the National Committee on Workforce and Development. The Democratic candidate, Michelle Nunn is the CEO of Points of Light, a volunteer coordination organization, and was appointed to the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation under Bush. She considered running for U.S. Senate in 2004, but ultimately decided against it.
David Perdue (R) v. Michelle Nunn (D)
The candidates’ histories in the private sector have driven the debate so far. Nunn has attacked Purdue for job layoffs as the result of mergers he oversaw as a CEO and for outsourcing jobs to exploit foreign labor. You can also expect to hear about Nunn’s salary of $225,000 as the CEO of Points of Light and about the layoffs that occurred when she took over the organization. Nunn’s team also leaked campaign memo outlining Nunn’s weaknesses as a candidate, calling her “too liberal.” It also included offensive fundraising strategies such as listing Jews as key fundraisers.
A typically red state, Georgia hasn’t elected a Democratic Senator in 14 years, and that is seeming less and less likely to change in 2014. Though they started out fairly even, Perdue has been slowing pulling further and further ahead since January and now holds a nearly 4 percent lead: