Meet/Meat On The Bone: Georgia U.S. Senate Runoff Grassroots Plan
Ted Sadler
November 10, 2022
Summary: Winning the U.S. Senate runoff in Georgia between Senator Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker will require a massive quick effort from several different sources. My grassroots network of political and public policy friends and associates are surprised that successful methods of the recent past (Warnock/Ossoff) were not employed in 2022. These methods could have made Tuesday’s election results considerably different.
Objective: In addition to official campaign and party operations, South Georgia needs a nimble, organic grassroots effort that is well-funded and that can reach those registered voters who didn’t vote in the general election for whatever reason. In a nutshell, we don’t need to proverbially “preach to the choir” or rally voters who vote without prodding. However, those voters are needed to encourage their whole families and communities to vote.
Objective: Voters need to know that they aren’t voting for Warnock or Walker but are voting for what Warnock and Biden/Harris would do for them and against what Walker and the Trump MAGA team would do to them and our nation.
Method: At O.P.E.N. 2020, we have crafted a plan for years to take 20 non-traditional community leaders in 20 cities and towns in the 2nd, 8th and 1st congressional districts and use their influence to get out the vote. We believe in the “party with a purpose” concept of filling venues with good times and good energy then letting the crowd know what is on the table—important actual issues.
Method: I personally wrote 20 quick issues earlier this year; issues I feel could be listed in 5 minutes. It occurs to me that Mr. Walker couldn’t discuss these issues well. I don’t want to shame his intellectual shortcomings but being a U.S. Senator at this pivotal point in our history isn’t the time for a lateral move. We see what happened when Trump made a lateral move. Herschel Walker being a Senator as his first governmental position is equal to Warnock coaching the Dallas Cowboys. While Walker was the greatest college football player of all-time, he doesn’t seem to have the leadership and organizational skills to coach the Cowboys or serve in the most exclusive club in the world, the U.S. Senate.
Problem: During the Warnock/Ossoff runoff, those of us who push local, state and federal politics and policy year around were surprised to see the “outside” groups who parachuted into our state to save control of the U.S. Senate because Georgians were evidently not smart enough to know the importance of the situation—and they made millions while we volunteered.
Solution: If the above-mentioned groups have the funding and need proven indigenous networks (to use Cliff Albright’s BVM term), we can win this election and stop Walker and Trump.
Method: In this short period of time, planning meetups or events should be simplified. Local restaurants and American Legion halls can be taken over for events. Our community appreciates the “grown and sexy” multi-generational family reunion and homecoming vibe parties. Events down the street from high school football playoff games or early high school basketball games are great ways to catch people while they are out.
Method: The concept from O.P.E.N. 2020 called for 20 local trendsetters with 5 to 7 being under the age of 30. Today, that type young person would be a social media influencer with thousands of followers. They should be paid by us to fill a venue and/or “go live” about our election efforts.
Method: In rural south Georgia, we would welcome the new cash crop “legal weed” and we pushed for LeMario Brown of Fort Valley or State Representative Winfred Dukes to be Agriculture commissioner candidate because they are strongly for reforming marijuana laws. Those two south Georgians would have gotten the votes to save the Democrat ticket on Tuesday and they are still very important to voter turnout.
Method: The push for infrequent voter turnout could come down to two residual benefit unofficial referendums: 1. Stopping Trump 2. Legal Weed
Meet/Meat On The Bone: I couldn’t resist this pun because Herschel Walker has cover fewer issues and opinions than any Senate candidate in modern times. He hasn’t met the press with Chuck Todd, face the nation nor step into the situation room because he is a puppet who can’t say marionette. We need to meet and talk about this runoff and the issues quickly. We need to use our network to get people to rallies or other events. At minimum, we should use social media to push are ideas to win to the public—a day web-based issues show from now until election night.
Summary: With only a few weeks before the runoff election and less for early voting, we need to decide what we can do this week; can we secure funding. Unfortunately, the GOP and their outside groups will likely put money on the table to get our community to support Walker or to stay home. In these rough economic times and with the holiday spending season looming, folks are susceptible.
Cross Generational Big Issues | Project Logic Ga
OPEN20/20 Network | a grassroots policy consortium (wordpress.com)
Project Logic Ga 
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