Edwards in Atlanta Today

I understand that John Edwards is visiting Atlanta today for a lunch time fundraiser. Tom Baxter with the AJC points out that Atlanta is a hot stop for fundraising because of the concentration of people with high net worth.

Presidential candidates figure that they will need to raise a minimum of 150 million dollars for the primary, a stark reality that makes fundraising the centerpiece for a candidate who actually hopes to win in 2008. No one likes it- not the candidates, not the donors and certainly not the 'grassroots' supporters who often do not get time with candidates because they are not able to write the big checks.

This is especially true in Georgia. As we have become more and more 'red,' we have become more and more politically irrelevant for the Presidential candidates on both sides of the ticket. They tend to come here to pick up checks, not to pick up votes. Used to be that we were at least important as a primary state, but with other states like New York, California, South Carolina, Nevada and others rushing to the front of the line for primary dates, that race may also be over before the first vote in cast in Georgia. We are, unhappily, an export state.

That's the political reality, and we can either wallow in our frustration over that situation or we can get our hands around the idea that in many ways, the state line not a barrier to helping the candidate you favor win next year. Yes, even Georgians can have an impact on who becomes our next President.

Here are some things that we can do:

1) The Net knows no boundaries. Get involved in the Edwards' E-Team or Citizen Journalist program.

2) Volunteer with One Corp or Democrats Work. By becoming engaged in the community, you have the ability to break through stereotypes and influence public opinion about Democrats on the state and national level.

3) Phone lines and e-mail reach beyond state lines. Get ready to volunteer to make phone calls to voters in 'swing' states or in early primary states. Many campaigns engage in just this sort of strategy as election day draws near.

4) Give. Until we have comprehensive campaign finance reform and public funding of elections, don't kid yourself- the money matters. Whether you are a regular political giver or someone who has never written a candidate a check before, now is the time. Think of it this way. When you donate to a candidate, what you are paying for is voter communication. You are helping them to get their message out. If you believe in your candidate, and believe that if only others could hear what they are saying, they would believe in them, too, it's time to get out the ol' checkbook. Some people don't write a check because they feel that their gift will be small and therefore insignificant. That's not the case. Trust me, when you are in the heat of battle, every dime matters. Many candidates I know treasure those $10 and $20 contributions the most because they know that the person who writes that kind of check is likely to be a loyal voter.