Changes

==Congressional campaign, 1972==

==Congressional campaign, 1972==

Mayor Thompson was unopposed for the Republican nomination for the Eighth Congressional District seat, whereas W.S. Stuckey defeated two intraparty opponents, State Representative Mitch Miller (no relation to the entertainer of the same name) and Harry Powell, a newspaper publisher from [[Dublin, Georgia|Dublin]], who was active in the [[anticommunist]] [[John Birch Society]]. ([[John Birch (missionary)|John Birch]] grew up in Macon.) Stuckey declined to discuss Thompson's mental breakdown, for fear of evoking sympathy for the mayor. Thompson's announcement that he had been offered $50,000 by an undisclosed person in Stuckey's organization to withdraw from the race reinforced questions of mental stability in the eyes of many voters.<ref>Moore, Thesis, pp. 110-111</ref>

Mayor Thompson was unopposed for the Republican nomination for the Eighth Congressional District seat, whereas W.S. Stuckey defeated two intraparty opponents, State Representative Mitch Miller (no relation to the entertainer of the same name) and Harry Powell, a newspaper publisher from [[Dublin, Georgia|Dublin]], who was active in the [[anticommunist]] [[John Birch Society]]. (John Birch grew up in Macon.) Stuckey declined to discuss Thompson's mental breakdown, for fear of evoking sympathy for the mayor. Thompson's announcement that he had been offered $50,000 by an undisclosed person in Stuckey's organization to withdraw from the race reinforced questions of mental stability in the eyes of many voters.<ref>Moore, Thesis, pp. 110-111</ref>

Campaign issues in the race were similar to those in other districts: the status of the Vietnam War, forced busing to achieve school integration, welfare, [[inflation]], and [[taxation]]. Thompson stressed "law-and-order", his most familiar mantra. Stuckey said that "Ronnie and I were agreeing on most of the issues in that campaign. . . . He wanted the job that I had."<ref>Moore, Thesis, pp. 111-112; Grant Jackson, "Taxes, Inflation: Issues in Eighth," ''Macon Telegraph and News'', October 29, 1972, p. D1</ref>

Campaign issues in the race were similar to those in other districts: the status of the Vietnam War, forced busing to achieve school integration, welfare, [[inflation]], and [[taxation]]. Thompson stressed "law-and-order", his most familiar mantra. Stuckey said that "Ronnie and I were agreeing on most of the issues in that campaign. . . . He wanted the job that I had."<ref>Moore, Thesis, pp. 111-112; Grant Jackson, "Taxes, Inflation: Issues in Eighth," ''Macon Telegraph and News,'' October 29, 1972, p. D1.</ref>

Stuckey and Thompson conducted mobile campaigns and went from town to town to shake hands. Stuckey distributed pencils; Thompson serenaded voters with his rendition of "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" or "Have A Little Talk with [[Jesus]]".<ref>Archie McKay, "Stuckey-Campaign Style: A Handshake and a Pencil", ''Macon Telegraph', October 10, 1972, p. A3; McKay, "Law and Order, Songs Mark Thompson Style," ''Macon Telegraph'', October 17, 1972, p. A3</ref> Stuckey repeatedly refused Thompson's request for a television debate. Thompson called Stuckey "a rich playboy" who "socializes with the [[Edward M. Kennedy|Kennedy]] crowd in Washington". Thompson described himself as a "[[cotton]]-sock Republican running against a [[silk]]-stocking Democrat."<ref>Bill Montgomery, "Thompson Plans Stay in Politics," ''Atlanta Journal and Constitution'', November 12, 1972, p. A21; Max Haggard, "Foe 'Socializing', Thompson Claims," ''Macon Telegraph'', September 6, 1972, p. A1; Jackson, "Mayor Describes Illness," p. 1</ref>

Stuckey and Thompson conducted mobile campaigns and went from town to town to shake hands. Stuckey distributed pencils; Thompson serenaded voters with his rendition of "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" or "Have A Little Talk with [[Jesus]]".<ref>Archie McKay, "Stuckey-Campaign Style: A Handshake and a Pencil", ''Macon Telegraph', October 10, 1972, p. A3; McKay, "Law and Order, Songs Mark Thompson Style," ''Macon Telegraph,'' October 17, 1972, p. A3.</ref> Stuckey repeatedly refused Thompson's request for a television debate. Thompson called Stuckey "a rich playboy" who "socializes with the [[Edward M. Kennedy|Kennedy]] crowd in Washington". Thompson described himself as a "[[cotton]]-sock Republican running against a [[silk]]-stocking Democrat."<ref>Bill Montgomery, "Thompson Plans Stay in Politics," ''Atlanta Journal and Constitution,'' November 12, 1972, p. A21; Max Haggard, "Foe 'Socializing', Thompson Claims," ''Macon Telegraph,'' September 6, 1972, p. A1; Jackson, "Mayor Describes Illness," p. 1.</ref>

The national GOP steered clear of Thompson either because of his perceived ultraconservative philosophy or the mental depression episode. When Nixon visited Atlanta, Thompson was not invited to ride in the [[parade]]. [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Spiro T. Agnew]] journeyed to Augusta and [[Columbus, Georgia|Columbus]] but never mentioned Thompson or the Eighth District race.<ref>Selby McCash, "GOP Holds Mayor at Arm's Length," ''Macon Telegraph'', October 29, 1972, p. D3</ref> Thompson was overwhelmed in fund-raising, having spent about $16,000 in the race to Stuckey's $250,000. Thompson disliked asking potential donors for contributions and instead depended on the sale of machine-gun pins for funding his campaign, insufficient as such sales proved to have been.<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, pp. 114-115</ref>

The national GOP steered clear of Thompson either because of his perceived ultraconservative philosophy or the mental depression episode. When Nixon visited Atlanta, Thompson was not invited to ride in the [[parade]]. [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Spiro Agnew]] journeyed to Augusta and Columbus but never mentioned Thompson or the Eighth District race.<ref>Selby McCash, "GOP Holds Mayor at Arm's Length," ''Macon Telegraph,'' October 29, 1972, p. D3.</ref> Thompson was overwhelmed in fund-raising, having spent about $16,000 in the race to Stuckey's $250,000. Thompson disliked asking potential donors for contributions and instead depended on the sale of machine-gun pins for funding his campaign, insufficient as such sales proved to have been.<ref>Buddy Moore, Thesis, pp. 114-115.</ref>

Thompson received 33,539 votes (37.8 percent) to Stuckey's 55,247 votes (62.2 percent).<ref>Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, U.S. House, 1972</ref> Thompson found a unique way to justify his defeat in Macon: city voters who repudiated his congressional candidacy had decided that Thompson should remain mayor. Thompson said that black voters who overwhelmingly backed Stuckey were "voting to keep Machine Gun Ronnie in Macon. I hope they realize that."<ref>Christopher Bonner, "Thompson: Whatever Else, His Reign Was Never Dull", ''Macon Telegraph and News'', December 7, 1975, p. 9</ref>

Thompson received 33,539 votes (37.8 percent) to Stuckey's 55,247 votes (62.2 percent).<ref>Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections, U.S. House, 1972</ref> Thompson found a unique way to justify his defeat in Macon: city voters who repudiated his congressional candidacy had decided that Thompson should remain mayor. Thompson said that black voters who overwhelmingly backed Stuckey were "voting to keep Machine Gun Ronnie in Macon. I hope they realize that."<ref>Christopher Bonner, "Thompson: Whatever Else, His Reign Was Never Dull", ''Macon Telegraph and News,'' December 7, 1975, p. 9.</ref>

==Gubernatorial primary, 1974==

==Gubernatorial primary, 1974==