Pocketbook issues took center stage in Democratic victories in Virginia, New Jersey and New York last week, as well as in a usually obscure election in Georgia.

The Georgia Public Service Commission is hardly a household name. Although it regulates the state's electric utilities, making decisions that impact every household and business in the state, many Georgians likely don't know what the board does.

Two incumbents on the commission were up for re-election, and they were the only candidates on the statewide ballot. Low voter turnout was inevitable, but the contest surprised both sides when 21 percent of the state's active voters--1.5 million Georgians--turned out for the election, a massive increase from the meager 120,000 voters who turned out in the primary elections for those races

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