AJC:
Roy Barnes will announce today that he intends to become the first former Georgia governor in a half-century to reclaim the office after being turned out by voters.
The announcement is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Marietta. Barnes, we’re told, will delay the actual start of his campaign until July, in order to wrap up some trial work and finish up as chairman of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Barnes has been keeping his cards close to his chest for most of the year, sometimes sounding like a candidate with a lot of issues burning in his blood, but also informing folks that he’s reluctant to terminate his retirement from the political arena. He’ll be joining an already-crowded field of Democrats for the gubernatorial nomination: Attorney General Thurbert Baker, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter, and former GA National Guard commander David Poythress are all in the race.
It’s possible, though, that Barnes’ entry could clear the field somewhat. A Strategic Vision poll from April showed Barnes crushing Baker by a 56-29 margin, with Poythress and Porter in the low-single digits. While Poythress has nothing to lose by continuing his candidacy, Porter and Baker may be thinking twice about giving up their safe jobs in order to roll the dice on a tough primary.
In the diaries, fitchfan28 has more.
This is a good thing. I don’t want to risk the Labor Commissioner seat. However, the Senate race may end up being where Thurmond winds up.
I think that Baker should drop out of the governor’s race and challenge Isakson for senate. Last November, PPP conducted a poll with Isakson 45% Baker 39%. Last November in the general election (not the runoff), the final results were Chambliss 50% Martin 47%. The original polls taken had Chambliss leading Martin by anywhere from 11% to 29% and Chambliss was above 50% in all of them. On the other hand Baker all ready has Isakson below 50% and is trailing him by single digits. In addition, Baker has won three statewide (two of whch by very large margins) while Martin had lost his only previous statewide election by double digits. Baker also has high name recognition and would probably be helped the very competitive governor’s race that Roy Barnes just jumped into. Based on these facts, I think that Thurbert Baker has the potential to unseat Isakson and become the first black senator from the south.
He should make that move regardless, better suited for it.
can win. Georgia’s changed, as he ought to know better than anyone else.
but it seems very unlikely that Barnes will lose in the primary. Hopefully Poythress, Porter or Baker jump into the Senate race. Maybe Poythress and have the other two go back to their old jobs.
http://blogs.ajc.com/gold-dome…
Good strategy. Take on the secessionists. Take on the flaggers (There are more important things to worry about. Own up to mistakes. Remind people that Georgia was much better under his watch than under Gomer Perdue’s watch.
Game on.
and Porter for Secretary of Agriculture. The old dinosaur Tommy Irvin’s been in office 41 years and has to retire sometime. Porter is from a very rural Republican area, (nationally), and has a good profile to win/