the meaning of georgia

The always-interesting Nate Silver examines the narrow win of Republican Saxy Chambliss in the Georgia runoff earlier this week (a victory that denies the Democrats a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate) and suggests that it means the Obama brand is both distinct and stronger than the Democrat brand, right now.

He also thinks that Chambliss won in part because he ran towards the centre, and that this may be a harbinger of things to come:

Famous last words, but I believe that the 2010 election cycle may actually be a fairly substantive, grown-up affair, essentially a battle over who can frame themselves as being more reasonable and bipartisan.

We will, of course, believe it when we see it. But if things do work out like that, Obama's promise to bring "Change" will seem as if it has, at least in part, been fulfilled.

Comments

[Tom Grey]

Your bias showing:
Nate says: "moving from a 3-point margin of victory on November 4 to a 15-point margin of victory a month later is a significant accomplishment."

That's not objectively a 'narrow win', like you call it.

[Ian Leslie]

Thanks Tom. I agree, that's a pretty thumping win. Not so much bias as an honest, sloppy mistake.