GA-Gov: Barnes Narrowly Leads All Republicans

PPP (2/26-28, registered voters):

Roy Barnes (D): 40

John Oxendine (R): 39

Undecided: 21

Roy Barnes (D): 41

Karen Handel (R): 36

Undecided: 23

Roy Barnes (D): 43

Nathan Deal (R): 38

Undecided: 19

Thurbert Baker (D): 33

John Oxendine (R): 42

Undecided: 25

Thurbert Baker (D): 33

Karen Handel (R): 40

Undecided: 27

Thurbert Baker (D): 30

Nathan Deal (R): 40

Undecided: 30

(MoE: ±4%)

Looks like it’s a good year to be running as whatever party isn’t in control. That’s good for the GOP at the federal level, but in a lot of statehouses, that may be good for the Dems. Georgia may be one state where that’s the case — incumbent GOP Gov. Sonny Perdue, who’s term-limited and not running, has 29/52 approvals. And the various Republicans running to replace him all trail their likely Democratic opponent, ex-Gov. Roy Barnes, according to PPP’s first poll of the race.

PPP has one important caveat, though: Republicans are more undecided than Democrats in each of the three matchups, with the probable reason that Barnes has high name rec from his previous term as Governor, while the three leading GOPers (Insurance Comm. John Oxendine, former SoS Karen Handel, and Rep. (for a few more days) Nathan Deal). The numbers may move more in a Republican direction as the candidates become better-known. Still, Barnes is starting out in a good place, and it looks like he may have picked the right year to try and get his foot back in the door.

RaceTracker Wiki: GA-Gov

20 thoughts on “GA-Gov: Barnes Narrowly Leads All Republicans”

  1. Given that Barnes is already well-known statewide (he’s a former Governor, after all), I don’t see how he would have all that much room to improve on these numbers.

  2. Hadley, our only announced candidate right now versus Isakson.

    Thurbert Baker vs. Isakson

    Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond vs. Isakson

    State Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kidd vs. Isakson

  3. Honestly, Barnes was swept out in a title wave in 2002. 8 years later, he starts out at 40%.  

    This would make more sense if undecideds were lower.  If you don’t like Barnes, wouldn’t you pick one of the Repub choices when polled?  Seems odd undecided’s are so high, if Barnes was in low 40’s I’d expect the Repubs to be at high 40’s at least.

    I think this might be a good sign for Barnes.  I dont see how the Repubs could be favored to have much upside.  Barnes name rec gets him 40% but his name also got Perdue way more than 50% when they went toe-to-toe in 2002.  Wasn’t Perdue fairly unknown before that election.

    Very weird poll.

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