atlanta two democratic candidates run governor georgia lawyers former state legislators women many policy issue hard tell apart even share first name stacey sharply disagree path victory stacey abrams 44 want become first african american female governor unite state mobilize solidly democratic black voters vote sporadically elections form win coalition white liberals stacey evans 39 think math add without also appeal white moderate many outside urban areas vote president donald trump last november highlight crossover appeal white suburban mother country root divergent strategies mirror wide debate within democratic party grow loud strong turnout minority voters help power recent democratic victories alabama virginia party prepare 2018 congressional elections disagreement voters spend time money minority voters fast-growing share electorate reliably cast ballot blue-collar suburban white swing party graphic tmsnrt.rs/2yykchv reuters interview liberal activist group donors examination campaign finance record show many leave bet abrams strategy best shoot turn republican state underscore stake georgia unusual attention national group seek push party farther leave level early support abrams largely unparalleled among 2018 gubernatorial many congressional race dozen liberal group already throw support behind abrams accord reuters tally even though democratic primary nominate contest still months away breadth support little report abrams rouse audiences near religious fervor describe struggle grow poor black south argue democrats waste resources swing voters leave many voters untouched say interview note refuse tone support abortion gay right labor unions appeal republican-leaning voters opponent discount importance black voters also embrace liberal view go persuade moderate republicans vote go win georgia say evans tear crowd recount childhood spend move one rural trailer home another lose white house last year democratic party find powerless washington party fault presidential nominee hillary clinton lack outreach minority voters key state others blame inability connect work class white voters democratic minorities support democratic ticket wide margins 2016 turnout flat among hispanics sharply low among african americans accord pew research center half georgia black voters cast ballot 2016 compare two-thirds white reuters review state record show democratic national committee say recent win alabama virginia show democrats force reckon invest early communities represent party jennifer duffy political analyst nonpartisan cook political report say boost democratic turnout could work strategy urge caution focus narrowly specific demographic group risk alienate moderate democrats swing voters especially suburban areas also play role recent democratic victories note university georgia political science professor charles bullock agree number democrats lose white voters abrams campaign headquarter poster title win point democrats georgia lose recent elections 200,000 vote million black voters cast ballot last governor race 2014 state data show vote ask campaign go keep ask abrams say speak recent even audience three dozen volunteer abrams tax attorney romance novelist lead democrats state legislature say campaign already reach 300,000 voters door knock phone call text message host summer events music barbecue dozen small cities place like macon predominately african american community tiny dalton rural northern state national liberal activists line endorsements money manpower behind abrams see start advantage democratic primary dominate black voters democracy america moveon political action work families party call campaign model engage nation increasingly diverse electorate politics change america abrams path victory reflect change demographics enthusiasm say dan cantor national chairman work families party moveon whose recent endorsement abrams mark first 2018 governor race say would mobilize 125,000 georgia members volunteer campaign democracy america similarly engage nearly 35,000 members state officials say group already raise nearly 25,000 abrams unusually high sum election still year away group call powerpac organize 10 million get-out-the-vote effort plan hire people contact minority voters use target radio phone digital campaign individual donors outside georgia contribute half 470,000 large donations abrams report accord reuters analysis campaign finance record billionaire george soros one democratic party big financial backers two sons donate 21,000 contrast evans receive many donations outside georgia national endorsements campaign focus restore cut state college scholarship call hope money come in-state donors fuel almost report 390,000 major donations support georgia last democratic governor well big-name democratic strategist paul begala work governor create scholarship georgia contest reflect divisions want broaden democratic electorate bring back voters shift away want drill deep party base increase turnout say begala call utterly false choice like football team say play offense defense begala say both recent barbecue luncheon athens evans point outperform clinton last year district 12 percentage point pick moderate voters win areas might think go support show talk people tell lawyers lunch pull pork serve paper placemats evans knock voters doors yet travel state talk local democratic organizations african-american church lukis newborn undecided rural voter recently hear abrams speak suburban atlanta sport bar find excite also connect evans raise household dinner rice bean peanut butter jelly part say newborn 26 paulding county internal struggle georgia democrat like other georgia battle 'staceys test democrats future