The final hours of Campaign 2008
-An updated look at what to expect election day, night> Click Preview
-Latest political meeting updates for today, Tuesday> Politics
-Broadcast media coverage plans, times for Tuesday night> Coverage
-Latest campaign finance reports: Find links to the latest campaign reports for the state House candidates, district attorney and superior court judge> Finance
-Election Day weather: Beautacious. 77 degrees, few clouds
-Tender your vote and then eat chicken tenders: That's the theme behind a real freebie offered by Shane's Rib Shack on election day> Dining
Dixon & Clemons/The election forecasts
Graham Dixon and Adam Clemons, your Hometown political columnists, finally agree on something: Tuesday is looking like a good day for the Democratic nominee--and the party. But what's that about 2012? > Dixon & Clemons
-Rome's McLaughlin to co-host six-hour 'Exit Poll' Webcast: Democrat 
David McLaughlin, founder of the Kudzu Vine Webcast and co-winner of a national blog radio contest, will co-anchor a six-hour "Exit Poll" show on Blog Talk Radio Wednesday evening> Details
The Buzz of Northwest Georgia
-Skipping ahead to Campaign 2010--and 2012
-Three-Dot Buzz: Rumors swirling about media changes; why radio works
-Peaks & Valleys: Salute to elections staff; CVFCU's Breast Center donation; Shorter's new business ethics institute
High school football/John McClellan's picks for play-in Friday
-John was 21-2 last week and makes some key picks for this week's high school games> Football
-More football below
YMCA to be closed today as remodeling continues: Citing "an unforeseen problem with reconnecting the power to the grid," the YMCA on Second Avenue is closed today. Electricians and staff are working to correct the problem. All operations should be normal again by Tuesday. Quick changes: 5- and 6-year-old basketball evaluations will be held next Monday at 5:30 p.m. All swim lessons and Kung fu will be made up. Please check www.ymcarome.org or www.arsenalrome.org (click on "field conditions") for updates.
Weather Center/brought to you by Katie Dempsey for State House:
-Mostly sunny today with a high of 75, low of 46.
-Election Day: Even warmer, 77 degrees and a few clouds, low of 43.
-For the extended forecast, click WeatherCenter
Ahead this week on The Football Report/ Brought to you by Printworks
-Pepperell, Rome both ranked high in latest AJC football polls
-John McClellan's high school picks (21-2 last week)
-Links to this Friday's play-in games, broadcasts, Web casts
-Shorter gets ready for the final regular-season home game
-All the weekend scores>The Football Report
Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable/ brought to you by Riverside Toyota
-Another lopsided defeat knocks out Georgia's chances of running with the elite. For more, click Arey
Downtown Headlines
- This will be one of the biggest weeks of the year in downtown Rome thanks to Tuesday night's post-election events, the chamber expo Friday night (private) and Saturday (public), a merchants sidewalk sale, Shorter College's last regular-season home game this year and a freebie day at the museum (actually, two, Friday and Saturday)> Downtown Headlines
-Campus Headlines: CVTC plans meetings on law enforcement programs
-Health: Coosa Valley Credit Union supports mobile mammography unit
-Dixon & Clemons: Our columnists on who will win Tuesday
-Politics: Home stretch for local candidates: Who's where Tuesday night
-Sports: Shorter, Berry basketball seasons under way
-Hometown KIDS: StoryTime at the library; kids Saturday at Booth
-Dining: Latest changes on the local restaurant scene; inspection scores
-Arts: Empty Bowls on display; fund-raiser is Nov. 11
-NW Georgia Ads: Paper Recovery & Greene's Jewelers -Plus: Your link to Coosa Valley Classifieds (all free)
Skipping ahead to Campaign 2010 -- and 2012
Consider this the last year of "politics as usual." We've seen some changes already (early voting and an energized voting public) and much more is on the way in two to four years. As we prepare to put a wrap on Campaign 2008, let's look down the road:
-Vote TiVo: As DVRs, TiVos, video-on-demand and other toys spoil us, we're finding we like calling things on our own agenda much more. We've just seen 35 to 40 percent of local registered voters cast ballots "on demand" if you will--when they choose and not on election day. That's in addition to voting by mail. Some candidates were caught off guard by the early voting surge but won't be next time.
-The line starts on the right: And that's literally true as six or more names are floating about should Preston Smith make this his swan song in the state Senate. Several of these "names" would cause openings in other offices as well in 2010 so expect some sort of domino effect. Some of the promising candidates who won't make the cut on Tuesday will be back, perhaps seeking other spots. Of course, this all depends on Smith's intentions.
-House calls: Look for Floyd County and Northwest Georgia to pick up more representation in the House following the 2010 Census--or at least have direct control over more House seats. That vote won't happen until the 2012 elections but there is talk already about whether three seats will have a Floyd base. Or will a seat or two shift toward the I-75/Bartow-Gordon corridor?
-Congressional connection, part I: Something to watch almost immediately after Tuesday's vote count is what U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey does next. There is continuing talk that Gingrey could run for governor on an ever-crowding GOP ballot. If so, who steps up to run on both sides of the aisle?
-Congressional connection, part II: Changing demographics could see another U.S. House seat in this area, perhaps breaking off from the District 11 spot held by Gingrey. The option already is under review by local players.
For now, we need to get through Tuesday night. But by the time the Thursday morning coffee clubs gather, the next race(s) will be topic one.
Three-dot Buzz . . . :
Sudden rush of media rumors: Maybe it is because the election season is over. Whatever the reason, a fresh batch of media rumors are on the street. In 24 hours, we heard of a potential buyout and a false report of another media shutting down in January.
The buyout one is particularly interesting because the outlet is built on a pretty simple template that anyone can introduce with almost no capital investment should the existing one be swallowed up. We're pretty sure one existing site (not this one, thank you) would move quickly into the same model. In fact, two existing sites would do so.
As for the shutdown: It ain't happening, says a key partner, citing a record year in revenue and that's exclusive of candidate ads We expect this one is being generated by a competitor.
What is for sure: Watch for some media changes by year's end or early 2009. With a very slow first quarter forecast, whatever advertising is still on the table will dry up. More media layoffs and cutbacks are on the way . . .
The sound of synergy: Local radio certainly isn't exempt from the tough economic climate. But as one broadcast colleague reminds us, "Rome is a radio town," and based on word of mouth, that hasn't changed.
For more than a year, we've had an excellent partnership with WBHF 1450 AM in Cartersville that involves some cross-promoting with our Bartow Headlines. We're already hearing very positive feedback from our new "Business Buzz" call-in with WLAQ 1410 AM and 95.7 The Ridge.
And we continue to be impressed by feedback about WGPB 97.7 FM. The national/state/local content mix with morning news program plays well with those not interested in the "blue-light" (cops) coverage.
In these days of little-viewed videocasts and other gimmicks, people are still close to their radios in the car, at home, at work. It is nice to see "established" media continuing to provide a great service to the community . . .
Georgia Trend content, ads focus on Rome/Floyd County: The November issue of Georgia Trend provides a heavy dose of Rome/Floyd information as the business publication spotlights the community. Included: A long piece on business updates (click) and the Floyd County Health Department makes the 15 best places to work in the state listing, too (click). Look for the cover with the annual restaurant awards (none from Northwest Georgia, sadly). . . .
PEAKS & VALLEYS: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia
Peak of the week/The election staffs of Floyd, Gordon, Bartow and Polk counties. As awesome as the early/advance vote count has been, these folks have been working almost double time to get those 40,000-plus people in front of the touch screen. The voting process has been spread to roughly six weeks out from election day, which puts added strain on election workers who are both registering would-be voters and letting others do their patriotic duty. Good show!
Peak to Coosa Valley Federal Credit Union: The financial center has made an
eye-opening three-year commitment to The Breast Center's new mobile mammography unit. The whole breast center concept is a good one and an excellent sign of even bigger things to come (cancer center).The credit union's partnership is an excellent investment in an excellent cause.
Valley to the politics of traffic management: As welcomed as the news was about a "major step forward" in getting the 411 Connector going, we call "red light" to the timing of the announcement. Less than a week away from election day? We're surprised the lack of progress on the road wasn't a campaign issue this year.
Peak to Shorter's new Hopkins Institute of Business Ethics: A $200,000 pledge from Shorter College Col. Harvard Hopkins and his wife will create the Hopkins Institute for Business Ethics. The institute, to housed in the college's School of Business Administration, arrives at a perfect time for both students and the community.
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