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DEL.ICIO.USReed’s four are also Stephens’ four
So Bill Stephens walks up to Ralph Reed and asks, 'Are you using live bait? Crickets, maybe?'
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Something interesting happened on Monday.
Several people lent their names to state Sen. Bill Stephen’s Republican campaign for secretary of state. The names listed by his campaign included U.S. Reps. Charlie Norwood of Augusta and Nathan Deal of Gainvesville. But also included were U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, Georgia Christian Coalition Chairman Sadie Fields, and south Georgia activists Kay Godwin and Pat Tippett.
It’s that latter group that merits comment. All four are also big supporters of Ralph Reed, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor. They’re not just representative of the Christian Right. Westmoreland is making inroads among hard-core economic conservatives in the GOP.
No one’s suggesting that Stephens and Reed are running in tandem. Tactically, that would be unusual, if not pretty darned dumb. (This judgment applies whether the candidates are Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative.)
However, it’s clear that both men are fishing in the same pool of voters — which means their futures could be tied together, despite any absence of strategery. Dispirited supporters in one camp could weigh down the other. Likewise, if one campaign catches fire, the other is likely to benefit.
What this also could mean is that the dual wings of the Republican party could have yet another reason to go at each other this July. Stephens’ opponent in the GOP primary is Karen Handel, the chairman of the Fulton County Commission. She’s also a former aide to Gov. Sonny Perdue.
And we all know how well Perdue and Westmoreland got along when they were under the same roof.
Cagle sets the bar at $100K. Reed’s answer to come by Friday or so.
The other news on Monday was the claim by Casey Cagle, the other GOP candidate for lieutenant governor, that he’d raised $100,000 in a single day last week. Spontaneously. It happens all the time in Georgia neighborhoods. Checks just drop from the sky.
Under the schedule for campaign finance disclosures, March 31 was the deadline for the period. It was also the day after the close of the Legislature, which set Cagle’s finance operation free. Reed has had three unchallenged months to beat up on Cagle with the checkbook crowd.
Reed’s returns, and Karen Handel’s in the GOP race for secretary of state, will be items of high curiousity on Friday, the approximate date they should trickle in.
Comments
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By debbie
April 4, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this
Cagle was in session, he could not raise money until the session was over. He simply asked his donors to send it on 3-31. No brainer to figure out
By joe
April 4, 2006 10:07 AM | Link to this
Debbie,
Have the voices in your head been talking to you again?
By
April 4, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this
Brian why don’t you grow up? Still hanging out with TARS?
By sara
April 4, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this
I think you can’t even ask for money during the legislature session. If Cagle even asked he broke the law! Makes you wonder how he raised 100,000 in just one day or if he’s been breaking the rules or had surrogates asking for him? Is it even legal to have others ask on behalf of a legislator during the session?
By Howard
April 4, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this
Sara, get over it. all it takes is 10 people to give 10,000 dollars. There are lot more than 10 out there who want to back the guy who is going to win and even more Republicans who think that Ralph Reed will destroy the GOP ticket.
Cagle raised 100K because he’s going to win and becuase Ralph will destroy the ticket.
By Terry
April 4, 2006 01:51 PM | Link to this
The point is that the leadership of the Georgia GOP has clearly concluded that Ralph Reed will take down the entire ticket if he is nominated. THAT is how Cagle raised 100k in one day.
By Joe
April 4, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this
Did you see that Ralph’s last report showed he raised almost 50 thousand dollars from one guy in Wyoming even though that’s way more than the limit?
Talk about corrupt!
By Jane
April 4, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this
Casey sent out an email asking for money on Friday, and I know several people who sent in checks. It was a no brainier. Plus, there were many checks received after Friday.
By Debbie
April 4, 2006 02:53 PM | Link to this
Terry, I have an email from Executive Director Paul Bennecke stating the party was remaining neutral. The last time I checked Sue Everhart was 1st Vice Chair of the State Party and Randy Evans was one of the party attorneys and they are both backing Reed. They don’t feel Reed will hurt the ticket. I know many in county party leadership are supporting Reed, they don’t feel he will bring down the party. Cagle is using scare tactics because he knows he can’t win on his merit. Just like the Dems do all the time.
Cagle raised 100,000 in one day because a legislator can not raise money while they are in session. Cagle simply told donors to send their money in on 3-31 when they would no longer be in session.
Here is the link to the last disclosure form Ralph filed. http://www.sos.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/ElectronicFilingResultsbyAmount.asp?FileName=17367b5o00210.txt&DateTimeStamp=1/9/2006%204:23:00%20PM
Joe,(Brian)It looks like you jumped the gun in implying Ralph had broken the campaign finance law by accepting contributions that were over the limit. The disclosure form shows the contributions for different cycles. Typical Cagle supporter.
Here is the link for the campaign limits, read it and weap. http://ethics.georgia.gov/00/article/0,2086,268860192700765227760091,00.html
By Tony
April 4, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this
Anyone know what the limits are per cycle? I’m curious what they are and who’s violated the limits.
Who cares how Cagle came up with 100K? Does it really matter? The fact he can organize that much money in one day proves something. It will be interesting to see who the contributors are for each. I’ve noticed Ralph has the country clubs and Buckhead cleaned out.
I guarantee many of those ‘top party officials’ who are supporting Ralph are doing so because NOT supporting Ralph can be hazardous to your political futures. Reed and his people like to blackball those who even blink the wrong way.
By sara
April 4, 2006 04:55 PM | Link to this
My point was that it’s impossible to raise that amount in one day if you really only use one day to do it. When the disclosures come out and 10 people gave 10,000 then maybe that’s OK. But if it’s different than that, I would venture to guess that someone violated both the spirit and the letter of fundraising laws. Of course like all smoke-filled back-room deals, the average voter will never know the truth. Big money usually wins out over truth.
By Howard
April 4, 2006 05:12 PM | Link to this
Yeah, like Ralph taking millions from indian casinos.
By Savannah Thinker
April 4, 2006 05:52 PM | Link to this
Most Dedicated Supporter goes to Debbie in her BLIND support of Ralph Reed.
Casey Cagle is winning the support of thousands of Georgians because he is the best and most qualified candidate to serve as Lt. Governor of Georgia.
Get with the program Debbie.
By Savannah Thinker
April 4, 2006 05:53 PM | Link to this
You know, if Reed’s supporters are also supporting Stephens, then they must also be supporting Gary Black.
Don’t special interest types stick together?
By Tony
April 4, 2006 08:16 PM | Link to this
Looks like this will be a Reed vs. Perdue primary. Reed and his ticket vs. Perdue’s ticket. If Stephens would screen his own emails he sends out he’d realize how foolish they sound.
By Savannah Thinker
April 4, 2006 09:54 PM | Link to this
I’m voting for the Perdue ticket in the primary. No doubt about it. (except Ag Commissioner — I’m voting for Brian Kemp)
It’s ashamed that we’ve gotten to this point…
By Tater
April 5, 2006 08:06 AM | Link to this
I’ve been to several Ralph Reed events lately and see no reason to think that Cagle’s “guilt by association” attacks are having a negative impact on Reed’s campaign. Reed is still very strong in my area. I agree this is all Cagle’s camp has as they cannot win on merrit. I believe that this will be a very nasty campaign, but that Reed wins and that is best for Georgia and Republicans. It is also best for Perdue, who will benefit from having Reed on the ballot this fall.
By Tony
April 5, 2006 11:38 AM | Link to this
Tater,
What do you mean this is all Cagle’s camp has? What in particular? What does Reed have? Corporate ties and ties to every lobby in DC? The last thing GA needs is corporate and lobbyist types from DC coming down here running the state. Reed will have school buses with bilboards and a huge digital sign like Times Square on the front lawn of the state capitol. It’s all about money and power for Reed. If Reed was so great why hasn’t he done great things for GA already?
And have you read his healthcare rant? Sounds like fluff and bigger government to me.
By Tony
April 5, 2006 11:49 AM | Link to this
Sara,
Let me educate you on campaign fundraising. It’s not that hard to get that money in one day. All Cagle had to do was make phone calls all day to get checks in. Who’s to say that the checks didn’t come in during this period. He cannot solicit during this period. But that doesn’t mean people didn’t send checks in anyway. This is not some shady backroom deal. It’s quite legal and happens all the time. All he needed was 20 people maxing out their limits.
By Debbie
April 5, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this
Tony, here are the limits. I included a link to the limits in a previous posting.
Candidates for State-wide Offices
No person, corporation, political committee, or political party shall make, and no candidate or campaign committee shall receive from any such entity, contributions to any candidate for state-wide elected office which in the aggregate for an election cycle exceed: (1) Five thousand dollars for a primary election (2) Three thousand dollars for a primary run-off election (3) Five thousand dollars for a general election (4) Three thousand dollars for a general election runoff
Candidates for All Other Offices
No person, corporation, political committee, or political party shall make, and no candidate or campaign committee shall receive from any such entity, contributions to any candidate for the General Assembly or public office other than state-wide elected office which in the aggregate for an election cycle exceed: (1) Two thousand dollars for a primary election (2) One thousand dollars for a primary run-off election (3) Two thousand dollars for a general election (4) One thousand dollars for a general election runoff
Savannah , I am not blind in my support of Reed, please provide proof of Ralph breaking the law. I don’t believe all the bs accusations and check them out.
You can’t handle the fact I refuse to believe accusations without proof.