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Tuesday, July 4, 2006
The Fourth and a straw poll
In Marietta, who could ask for anything more?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you were Republican and running for statewide office on Tuesday morning, you were in the parking lot of the Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta. That’s where the city’s Fourth of July parade began.
Candidates without opposition were sent to the front. Those with opposition were positioned in the rear, to sort out their differences amongst each other.
Bob Greer, one of several GOP candidates for agriculture commission, showed up with a beat-up, used tractor to tow his float. Gary Black, a primary rival, had a new air-conditioned one.
Casey Cagle was No. 62 in the parade. Ralph Reed was No. 72. A world of difference lay in between.
Afterwards, all adjourned to Jim Miller Park for the annual gathering of the Cobb County Republican party and its straw poll. We present the results below, along with the following observation: They mimick last week’s Insider Advantage poll by Matt Towery & Co.
The same crowd that endorses Ralph Reed for lieutenant governor also gives the nod to Karen Handel for secretary of state. Strange.
Cagle, by the way, was his normal aggressive self. His campaign sent a fellow calling himself “Mr. Chip” through the Republican gathering in a green visor and black vest, impersonating a cardshark. He handed out poker chips.
Below are the results of the straw poll, courtesy of Cobb County GOP chairman Anthony-Scott Hobbs:
Governor:
Sonny Perdue 89%
Ray McBerry 11%
Lt. Governor:
Ralph Reed 64%
Casey Cagle 36%
Secretary of State:
Karen Handel 50%
Bill Stephens 41%
Charlie Bailey 9%
Eric Martin 0%
Commissioner of Labor:
Brent Brown 82%
Chuck Scheid 18%
Public Service Commissioner:
Chuck Eaton 69%
Mark Parkman 31%
Public Service Commissioner:
Stan Wise 79%
Newt Nickell 21%
Commissioner of Agriculture:
Gary Black 66%
Bob Greer 3%
Brian Kemp 26%
Deanna Strickland 5%
State School Superintendent:
Kathy Cox 75%
Danny Carter 25%
Attorney General:
Perry McGuire 100%
Commissioner of Insurance:
John Oxendine 100%
Cobb Republican party ballot questions:
Do you support guest worker programs for illegal aliens?
Yes 37%
No 63%
Do you support the “Fair Tax” plan which is a federal national sales tax to replace the income tax?
Yes 91%
No 9%
Do you believe the Cobb County school board term of office should be changed from four years to two years to increase accountability?
Yes 53%
No 47%
Do you believe that SPLOSTS (special purpose local option sales taxes) should only be held during he general election so as to maximize voter participation?
Yes 83%
No 17%
2008 Presidential Straw Poll
George Allen 17%
Bill Frist 3%
Newt Gingrich 38%
Rudy Guliani 22%
Mitt Romney 11%
John McCain 9%
Minority report from Grover Norquist
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Hill, a Capitol-oriented daily in Washington, presents the contrarian view of last month’s report by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on the doings of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The spokesman is Grover Norquist, head of Americans for Tax Reform, the group that served as the intermediary funding institution between pro-gambling outlets and Ralph Reed.
Norquist focuses on John McCain, the Arizona senator and Republican chairman of the Senate committee.
“He has exhibited personal animus toward me,â€? Norquist said. “McCain, who’s running for president and is ostensibly the front-runner, takes time and effort to throw a punch at me and Ralph Reed. Why? He has told people we stopped him in the presidential election last time, and he thinks we might do it again. He is delusional. George W. Bush beat him in South Carolina. But that’s high praise of the taxpayer movement.â€?
Read the entire article here.
