Allen Buckley, the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate in Georgia, is someone we're likely to hear a lot about in the hours and days to come. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Jay Bookman reported this afternoon that thanks to "a leaked memo attributed to McLaughlin & Associates, a national Republican polling and research firm with offices in Virginia and New York, Buckley may be about to hit the big time, drawing the kind of attention that only the big boys get." The memo, which according to Bookman was "allegedly written by Brian Larkin, director of qualitative research at McLaughlin," states, “There is an alarming shift in key demographic segments that do not bode well for the Senator ...Our data indicates that support among the 35-50 and 50-65 white male segment is softening. It also appears that they [are] trending towards the Libertarian candidate." The Senator mentioned above is Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss, who, like a number of other senators, is fearful of losing his seat next week. His concern is warranted, because Democrats are in reach 60 Senate seats, the number needed to prevent filibusters. This story is only just developing and there seems to be loose ends to tie up with regard to the origin of the leak (it was faxed anonymously to the Constitution) and whether the poll numbers and the memo itself are fake. But the numbers are only the beginning of the story. "What makes the memo potentially incendiary is not the numbers," Bookman wrote, "but the narrative that follows." Here's part of it (errors and all):
Our gravest concern is that in the post-election runoff environment, the democratic opponent will emerge as ‘the reasonable choice’. ... As you are no doubt aware, your client’s seat might well be number 60 if we can’t turn this thing around.
To avoid this messy situation, we recommend the following actions:
Dispatch an action team to conduct the neglected opposition research on the Libertarian candidate. Our operatives will leave no stone unturned. A complete review of his income tax records, marriage records, student records and criminal records as well as detailed financial information must be obtained ASAP.
Since the Libertarian candidate has utilized AM Talk Radio for the majority of his negative efforts, this would be the venue to launch the client’s counterassault. Radio ads must be prepared detailing some of the Libertarian party’s controversial stands on the issues such as drug law, gay marriage and abortion.
A major effort must be made in the blogosphere to ridicule the Libertarian candidate from as many sources and directions as possible. Attacks must be made from the right and the left, spurious claims should be made while hiding under the cloak of anonymity the internet affords.
Ooh! Leave no stone unturned ... counter-assault ... spurious claims ... cloak of anonymity! I don't know if I should polish my decoder ring or take a shower.
