Scott: Will give Marshall a race like he’s never seen

The Monroe County Reporter By Will Davis State Rep. Austin Scott (R-Tifton) brought his campaign for Congress to Forsyth last week and proved he’ll ask just about anyone for their vote.

A man was setting up a video camera for the Monroe County Republican Party’s regular meeting at This Little Piggy on Tuesday and Scott asked him for his support. He quickly learned that the man was doing opposition research as a field representative for Democratic Congressman Jim Marshall (D-Macon), the incumbent Scott is trying to unseat.

The story prompted chuckles from the Republican crowd, but Scott added that getting rid of Marshall is very serious business. He said the Democratic congress and president have rolled up massive government spending and debt that are the greatest threat to his and future generations. He said the stakes are too high to overlook any potential voter. He said he’s ready to beat Marshall and will be happy to help Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi pack her bags so she can leave Washington.

“I will out-work (Marshall) and bring him a campaign like he’s never seen,” Scott said.

Scott, a Republican from Tifton, surprised Georgia’s political establishment in April when he announced he was leaving the governor’s race to challenge Marshall in the 8th Congressional District, which includes Monroe County. But first, he must win the Republican nomination over political newcomers Dianne Vann, a nurse from Bonaire, and Ken DeLoach, a Christian school administrator.

While Marshall has beaten three different Republican challengers since taking office, Scott told the Monroe County crowd he’s knocked off entrenched incumbents before. When he was 26 years old, he upset another long-time Democratic politician, a representative from Tifton, to become the first Republican from his area of the state.

Scott said he has had opposition six of seven times he’s run and been re-elected every time.

Scott said the only way to stop the current spending binge is to replace Pelosi by beating Democrats.

If elected, Scott said Republicans will work to balance the budget and reduce the tax burden so that agricultural and manufacturing businesses can thrive again. Scott said he’s been assured he can serve on the agriculture committee in Congress to help farmers.

Scott took questions and was grilled about his decision to enter the Congressional race late. Scott said as he ran for governor most of the questions he was asked were about federal policy and he realized Congress was where he could make the biggest difference. He acknowledged he would finish third at best in the race for governor and said he’d rather be the 218th Republican vote to unseat Pelosi.

Scott was also asked how he planned to counter Marshall’s strength in the district at Robins Air Force Base, where military families have gone with Marshall even though they’re usually conservative. Scott said he’s got lots of friends at RAFB and said with what President Obama and Speaker Pelosi have been doing, this election will be like none other.

“The Democrats see that (Obama’s) further left than any president we’ve ever had,” said Scott. “Two years ago most people didn’t know who Nancy Pelosi was.”

Scott said he was working the phones for votes earlier and a guy told him he was voting for Marshall. After Scott asked him what would be left for the younger generations after two more years of Democrat rule, the man responded, “not much.” He finally was persuaded and told Scott to bring him 12 yard signs to put out, according to Scott.

For his part, DeLoach said he would vote to repeal Obamacare and lambasted Marshall.

“He only listens to himself and his handlers in Washington, D.C.,” said DeLoach. “A dog is only loyal to the man who feeds him and we know who feeds him.”

DeLoach blasted Marshall for supporting a bill that would help workers unionize plants by letting union leaders see how workers voted.

“One of us has got to replace this man,” said DeLoach. “Jim Marshall has got to go.”

DeLoach said the only bill Marshall has gotten through Congress in his years there was one to add the name “Mounds” to the Ocmulgee Indian Mounds in Macon.

Public Service Commission candidates state Sen. John Douglas and Tim Echols, and Suzanna Wood, wife of attorney general candidate Max Woods, also spoke. The primary is set for July 20.

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